More than 60,000 Run from Sudanese City Following Takeover by Rapid Support Forces Paramilitary Group, UN States

Refugees escaping violence in Sudan
Numerous are attempting to reach the town of Tawila but experience intimidation, extortion and mistreatment from militiamen during their journey

According to the United Nations refugee organization, in excess of 60,000 individuals have fled the Sudanese city of el-Fasher, which was seized by the militia RSF over the weekend.

There have been multiple executions and human rights violations as militia members entered the city after an year-and-a-half encirclement featuring food shortages and intense shelling.

The movement of those running from the violence towards the town of Tawila, approximately 80km (50 miles) west of el-Fasher, had increased in the past few days, as stated by United Nations refugee agency representative.

Survivors were narrating shocking accounts of abuses, such as sexual violence, and the organization was having trouble to secure enough housing and nourishment for them.

Each child was suffering from malnutrition, she noted.

Estimates suggest that more than 150,000 residents are currently trapped in el-Fasher, which had been the military's last fortress in the western region of Darfur.

The RSF has rejected extensive accusations that the deaths in el-Fasher are ethnically motivated and follow a practice of the Arab paramilitaries targeting ethnic minorities.

Nevertheless the RSF has arrested one of its members, Abu Lulu, who has been implicated in on-the-spot executions.

The force distributed recordings depicting the member's apprehension following confirmation that he was behind the death of multiple unarmed men in the vicinity of el-Fasher.

Video sharing service has confirmed that it has banned the account connected to Lulu. The status remains unclear whether he had managed the profile in his name.

Sudan was plunged into a civil war in April 2023 when a brutal struggle for power broke out between its military and the Rapid Support Forces.

This has caused a food crisis and accusations of ethnic cleansing in the Darfur area.

In excess of 150,000 people have lost their lives in the conflict across the country, and about 12 million have left their dwellings in what the United Nations has described as the biggest global humanitarian emergency.

The seizure of el-Fasher strengthens the geographic split in the country, with the RSF now in control of western Sudan and a large portion of neighbouring Kordofan to the south, and the military holding the capital, Khartoum, central and eastern regions along the Red Sea.

The two warring rivals had been partners - taking over together in a seizure of power in 2021 - but fell out over an globally supported plan to move towards civilian rule.

Jack Johnson
Jack Johnson

A tech strategist with over a decade of experience in digital innovation and enterprise solutions.

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