Over 60,000 Escape Sudan's City After Takeover by RSF Militia, United Nations States

Per the United Nations refugee organization, in excess of 60,000 individuals have left the city in Sudan of el-Fasher, which was seized by the militia RSF recently.

Reports indicate summary killings and human rights violations as militia members stormed the city after an extended blockade marked by food shortages and sustained attacks.

The flow of those fleeing the fighting towards the town of Tawila, roughly 80km (50 miles) to the west of el-Fasher, had accelerated in the past few days, according to UNHCR spokesperson.

Survivors were narrating horrendous accounts of abuses, including sexual violence, and the agency was having trouble to locate sufficient housing and food for them.

Each child was experiencing nutritional deficiencies, she commented.

Calculations indicate that over 150,000 residents are still stranded in el-Fasher, which had been the army's last stronghold in the western part of Darfur.

The Rapid Support Forces has disputed widespread allegations that the deaths in el-Fasher are ethnically motivated and mirror a pattern of the Arab militia groups focusing on ethnic minorities.

Yet the RSF has detained one of its fighters, Abu Lulu, who has been implicated in on-the-spot executions.

The group shared footage depicting the militiaman's apprehension after identification that he was responsible for the killing of multiple non-combatants near el-Fasher.

Video sharing service has acknowledged that it has suspended the account linked to Lulu. It is not clear whether he had operated the profile in his name.

Sudan was plunged into a domestic fighting in April 2023 after a intense contest for control erupted between its army and the RSF.

This has resulted in a starvation emergency and allegations of genocide in the western Darfur region.

In excess of 150,000 individuals have been killed in the conflict throughout the country, and approximately 12 million have fled their homes in what the United Nations has called the most extensive humanitarian crisis.

The takeover of el-Fasher reinforces the geographic split in the country, with the Rapid Support Forces now in command of Sudan's west and much of adjacent Kordofan to the south, and the army occupying the main city, Khartoum, central and eastern areas along the coastal region.

The opposing sides had been allies - coming to power together in a takeover in 2021 - but disagreed over an foreign-endorsed initiative to advance to civilian leadership.