In excess of 60,000 Escape Sudan's City In the wake of Takeover by Rapid Support Forces Militia, UN States

Displaced people escaping conflict in the region
Numerous are trying to get to the town of Tawila but experience harassment, demands for money and mistreatment from armed men during their journey

Per the UNHCR, over 60,000 civilians have escaped the Sudanese city of el-Fasher, which was captured by the militia Rapid Support Forces recently.

There have been mass executions and crimes against humanity as RSF fighters took control of the city after an year-and-a-half blockade featuring famine and intense shelling.

The movement of those running from the violence towards the town of Tawila, about 80km (50 miles) to the west of el-Fasher, had increased in the past few days, per UNHCR spokesperson.

Survivors were narrating terrible accounts of violence, featuring rape, and the humanitarian group was finding it difficult to locate sufficient accommodation and nourishment for them.

Every child was suffering from malnutrition, she noted.

It is estimated that more than 150,000 people are presently trapped in el-Fasher, which had been the army's last stronghold in the western part of Darfur.

The RSF has rejected broad accusations that the deaths in el-Fasher are driven by ethnicity and mirror a trend of the Arab militia groups attacking ethnic minorities.

Yet the paramilitary group has detained one of its members, Abu Lulu, who has been charged with on-the-spot executions.

The organization released recordings depicting the militiaman's detention following identification that he was involved in the death of several non-combatants near el-Fasher.

Video sharing service has verified that it has suspended the account linked to Lulu. Uncertainty exists whether he had controlled the account in his identity.

Sudan was plunged into a civil war in April 2023 after a brutal contest for control began between its army and the RSF.

This has led to a famine and claims of ethnic cleansing in the western Sudan.

Over 150,000 individuals have lost their lives in the conflict across the country, and roughly 12 million have abandoned their dwellings in what the United Nations has called the biggest global humanitarian disaster.

The takeover of el-Fasher reinforces the regional separation in the country, with the RSF now in control of Sudan's west and a large portion of bordering Kordofan to the south, and the army controlling the main city, Khartoum, central and eastern areas along the coastal region.

The two warring rivals had been collaborators - taking over together in a coup in 2021 - but fell out over an internationally backed plan to transition to civilian leadership.

Pedro Vazquez
Pedro Vazquez

A digital strategist and front-end developer with over 8 years of experience, passionate about creating user-centric web solutions.