Over 60,000 Run from Sudanese City After Seizure by RSF Paramilitary Group, United Nations Reports

As stated by the United Nations refugee organization, more than 60,000 individuals have escaped the Sudanese city of el-Fasher, which was captured by the militia RSF over the weekend.

Accounts suggest summary killings and crimes against humanity as RSF fighters entered the city following an year-and-a-half siege characterized by starvation and sustained attacks.

The movement of those fleeing the conflict towards the community of Tawila, roughly 80km (50 miles) to the west of el-Fasher, had grown in the last several days, per UNHCR spokesperson.

They were describing shocking accounts of violence, including sexual violence, and the agency was struggling to secure enough housing and nourishment for them.

Each child was suffering from malnutrition, she commented.

It is estimated that over 150,000 residents are currently unable to leave in el-Fasher, which had been the military's remaining stronghold in the western region of Darfur.

The RSF has denied widespread claims that the executions in el-Fasher are driven by ethnicity and resemble a pattern of the Arab militia groups targeting non-Arab communities.

Yet the RSF has custodied one of its fighters, Abu Lulu, who has been implicated in extrajudicial killings.

The force distributed footage showing the member's detention following confirmation that he was responsible for the death of numerous non-combatants close to el-Fasher.

Social media platform has acknowledged that it has banned the account associated with Lulu. It is not clear whether he had controlled the account in his name.

Sudan was plunged into a domestic fighting in April 2023 after a brutal struggle for power broke out between its army and the RSF.

It has led to a famine and claims of ethnic cleansing in the western Darfur region.

In excess of 150,000 people have lost their lives in the fighting across the country, and approximately 12 million have fled their residences in what the UN has called the most extensive humanitarian crisis.

The capture of el-Fasher strengthens the territorial division in the country, with the RSF now in dominance of the western region and significant areas of neighbouring Kordofan to the southern area, and the military controlling the capital, Khartoum, central and eastern areas along the Red Sea.

The two warring rivals had been collaborators - taking over together in a takeover in 2021 - but split over an globally supported initiative to transition to civilian leadership.