More than 60,000 Flee Sudan's City Following Seizure by RSF Paramilitary Group, UN Says

Refugees fleeing conflict in Sudan
Numerous are trying to get to the settlement of Tawila but face intimidation, demands for money and abuse from fighters during their journey

Per the United Nations refugee organization, in excess of 60,000 people have escaped the city in Sudan of el-Fasher, which was seized by the paramilitary RSF during the weekend.

There have been summary killings and human rights violations as RSF fighters took control of the city following an year-and-a-half siege featuring food shortages and sustained attacks.

The movement of those fleeing the violence towards the town of Tawila, roughly 80km (50 miles) to the west of el-Fasher, had increased in the past few days, according to UNHCR representative.

Survivors were telling horrendous stories of abuses, featuring sexual violence, and the humanitarian group was finding it difficult to find sufficient housing and supplies for them.

All children was suffering from nutritional deficiencies, she added.

Estimates suggest that in excess of 150,000 individuals are still stranded in el-Fasher, which had been the military's last fortress in the western part of Darfur.

The RSF has denied extensive accusations that the deaths in el-Fasher are ethnically motivated and mirror a trend of the Arab fighters focusing on non-Arab communities.

However the paramilitary group has detained one of its members, Abu Lulu, who has been implicated in summary executions.

The group shared video depicting the member's apprehension subsequent to confirmation that he was involved in the death of multiple unarmed men close to el-Fasher.

Social media platform has acknowledged that it has suspended the channel connected to Lulu. The status remains unclear whether he had operated the profile in his name.

Sudan was plunged into a internal conflict in April 2023 following a brutal struggle for power broke out between its military and the RSF.

The conflict has caused a food crisis and accusations of mass killing in the western Darfur region.

Over 150,000 individuals have lost their lives in the conflict throughout the country, and about 12 million have left their residences in what the UN has called the most extensive humanitarian disaster.

The seizure of el-Fasher reinforces the geographic split in the country, with the RSF now in dominance of western Sudan and a large portion of adjacent Kordofan to the southern area, and the military occupying the main city, Khartoum, central and eastern regions 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 plan to advance to civilian rule.

Anna Mcknight
Anna Mcknight

A seasoned sports analyst with over a decade of experience in betting markets, specializing in data-driven predictions and strategy development.