Over 60,000 Escape Sudan's City After Capture by Rapid Support Forces Militia, United Nations Reports

As stated by the United Nations refugee organization, over 60,000 civilians have escaped the city in Sudan of el-Fasher, which was captured by the paramilitary RSF over the weekend.

There have been multiple executions and atrocities as RSF fighters took control of the city following an extended blockade characterized by food shortages and heavy bombardment.

The flow of those escaping the violence towards the town of Tawila, approximately 80km (50 miles) west of el-Fasher, had accelerated in the last several days, per UNHCR spokesperson.

Refugees were telling horrendous tales of violence, such as rape, and the agency was finding it difficult to find enough accommodation and supplies for them.

All children was affected by undernourishment, she commented.

It is estimated that in excess of 150,000 individuals are still stranded in el-Fasher, which had been the military's last bastion in the western region of Darfur.

The RSF has rejected extensive allegations that the executions in el-Fasher are driven by ethnicity and mirror a trend of the Arab militia groups attacking non-Arab communities.

Yet the paramilitary group has arrested one of its fighters, Abu Lulu, who has been accused of on-the-spot executions.

The group released footage depicting the fighter's detention following confirmation that he was involved in the execution of numerous civilians near el-Fasher.

Video sharing service has verified that it has removed the channel connected to Lulu. It is not clear whether he had operated the profile in his name.

Sudan was thrown into a domestic fighting in April 2023 after a vicious struggle for power began between its military and the Rapid Support Forces.

This has caused a famine and claims of genocide in the Darfur area.

Over 150,000 individuals have been killed in the war across the country, and approximately 12 million have abandoned their residences in what the UN has described as the world's largest humanitarian emergency.

The seizure of el-Fasher reinforces the geographic split in the country, with the RSF now in command of the western region and a large portion of adjacent Kordofan to the southern area, and the army controlling the capital, Khartoum, the center and east along the coastal region.

The competing factions had been collaborators - coming to power together in a seizure of power in 2021 - but split over an globally supported plan to move towards civilian rule.