More than 60,000 Escape Sudan's City In the wake of Capture by Rapid Support Forces Militia, United Nations States

Displaced people escaping conflict in Sudan
Numerous are trying to get to the town of Tawila but encounter harassment, demands for money and abuse from armed men during their journey

As stated by 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 militia Rapid Support Forces over the weekend.

There have been summary killings and crimes against humanity as paramilitary forces took control of the city after an year-and-a-half siege characterized by food shortages and heavy bombardment.

The flow of those fleeing the fighting towards the town of Tawila, approximately 80km (50 miles) west of el-Fasher, had accelerated in the past few days, per United Nations refugee agency representative.

They were describing terrible stories of atrocities, including rape, and the agency was having trouble to find adequate housing and food for them.

All children was affected by nutritional deficiencies, she commented.

Estimates suggest that in excess of 150,000 residents are currently trapped in el-Fasher, which had been the military's final bastion in the western part of Darfur.

The RSF has disputed broad accusations that the killings in el-Fasher are ethnically motivated and resemble a practice of the Arab fighters targeting non-Arab populations.

However the paramilitary group has arrested one of its members, Abu Lulu, who has been implicated in on-the-spot executions.

The organization shared recordings revealing the member's arrest subsequent to identification that he was behind the death of several civilians near el-Fasher.

Digital platform has verified that it has suspended the profile connected to Lulu. Uncertainty exists whether he had controlled the profile in his identity.

Sudan was plunged into a domestic fighting in April 2023 after a brutal struggle for power broke out between its army and the Rapid Support Forces.

The conflict has resulted in a famine and allegations of ethnic cleansing in the western Sudan.

More than 150,000 people have lost their lives in the war around the country, and about 12 million have fled their residences in what the UN has called the world's largest humanitarian emergency.

The seizure of el-Fasher solidifies the geographic split in the country, with the RSF now in dominance of the western region and much of adjacent Kordofan to the south, and the military holding the main city, Khartoum, central and eastern areas along the coastal region.

The competing factions had been collaborators - taking over together in a coup in 2021 - but disagreed over an globally supported proposal to advance to civilian leadership.

Barbara Suarez
Barbara Suarez

A gaming analyst with over a decade of experience in casino strategy development and player psychology.