🔗 Share this article

According to the UNHCR, more than 60,000 individuals have fled the city in Sudan of el-Fasher, which was taken over by the paramilitary RSF over the weekend.

There have been mass executions and crimes against humanity as militia members entered the city following an year-and-a-half siege characterized by famine and heavy bombardment.

The flow of those escaping the fighting towards the community of Tawila, about 80km (50 miles) to the west of el-Fasher, had grown in the past few days, according to United Nations refugee agency representative.

Survivors were telling shocking accounts of atrocities, featuring sexual violence, and the agency was having trouble to locate sufficient shelter and nourishment for them.

All children was affected by undernourishment, she added.

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

The RSF has rejected extensive accusations that the killings in el-Fasher are ethnically motivated and follow a pattern of the Arab fighters targeting non-Arab communities.

However the RSF has detained one of its members, Abu Lulu, who has been charged with extrajudicial killings.

The organization released recordings revealing the militiaman's apprehension subsequent to confirmation that he was involved in the death of numerous unarmed men in the vicinity of el-Fasher.

Social media platform has confirmed that it has removed the profile linked to Lulu. The status remains unclear whether he had operated the account in his identity.

Sudan was thrown into a civil war in April 2023 following a intense contest for control broke out between its army and the RSF.

The conflict has resulted in a famine and claims of mass killing in the western Darfur region.

More than 150,000 individuals have died in the war across the country, and about 12 million have fled their homes in what the United Nations has called the world's largest humanitarian emergency.

The seizure of el-Fasher strengthens the regional separation in the country, with the Rapid Support Forces now in dominance of Sudan's west and significant areas of neighbouring Kordofan to the southern area, and the army holding the main city, Khartoum, central and eastern regions along the coastal region.

The opposing sides had been collaborators - coming to power together in a takeover in 2021 - but fell out over an internationally backed proposal to advance to civilian rule.