More than 60,000 Escape Sudanese City Following Takeover by Rapid Support Forces Paramilitary Group, UN Reports

According to the UN refugee agency, more than 60,000 people have escaped the Sudanese city of el-Fasher, which was taken over by the paramilitary RSF recently.

There have been summary killings and crimes against humanity as RSF fighters stormed the city following an 18-month siege marked by starvation and heavy bombardment.

The flow of those escaping the fighting towards the town of Tawila, roughly 80km (50 miles) west of el-Fasher, had increased in the recent days, according to United Nations refugee agency representative.

They were describing terrible stories of abuses, including sexual violence, and the humanitarian group was having trouble to locate enough accommodation and food for them.

All children was affected by undernourishment, she commented.

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

The RSF has rejected broad accusations that the executions in el-Fasher are driven by ethnicity and resemble a pattern of the Arab militia groups attacking non-Arab communities.

Yet the RSF has arrested one of its fighters, Abu Lulu, who has been accused of extrajudicial killings.

The organization released video revealing the militiaman's detention following identification that he was responsible for the killing of several non-combatants near el-Fasher.

Digital platform has confirmed that it has removed the account associated with Lulu. Uncertainty exists whether he had managed the account in his name.

Sudan was plunged into a domestic fighting in April 2023 when a brutal power struggle erupted between its army and the Rapid Support Forces.

It has led to a food crisis and accusations of genocide in the Darfur area.

In excess of 150,000 individuals have been killed in the fighting around the country, and roughly 12 million have left their homes in what the UN has described as the world's largest humanitarian crisis.

The takeover of el-Fasher strengthens the regional separation in the country, with the Rapid Support Forces now in command of Sudan's west and significant areas of bordering Kordofan to the southern area, and the military occupying the main city, Khartoum, the center and east along the Red Sea.

The two warring rivals had been allies - taking over together in a seizure of power in 2021 - but split over an globally supported initiative to advance to civilian leadership.