🔗 Share this article Over 60,000 Escape Sudan's City Following Takeover by Rapid Support Forces Militia, United Nations Says Numerous seek to reach the town of Tawila but face harassment, extortion and mistreatment from fighters during their journey According to the United Nations refugee organization, in excess of 60,000 civilians have left the city in Sudan of el-Fasher, which was captured by the militia RSF recently. Accounts suggest multiple executions and atrocities as militia members took control of the city after an extended blockade featuring food shortages and intense shelling. The movement of those escaping the fighting towards the town of Tawila, about 80km (50 miles) to the west of el-Fasher, had increased in the past few days, as stated by United Nations refugee agency representative. Refugees were telling horrendous tales of violence, including rape, and the organization was having trouble to secure enough accommodation and supplies for them. All children was suffering from nutritional deficiencies, she noted. It is estimated that in excess of 150,000 people are still unable to leave in el-Fasher, which had been the army's final bastion in the western part of Darfur. The Rapid Support Forces has rejected broad accusations that the executions in el-Fasher are based on ethnic factors and resemble a trend of the Arab paramilitaries targeting non-Arab communities. Yet the RSF has detained one of its fighters, Abu Lulu, who has been accused of on-the-spot executions. The force distributed footage showing the member's detention subsequent to identification that he was responsible for the killing of multiple civilians near el-Fasher. Social media platform has verified that it has banned the account linked to Lulu. It is not clear whether he had operated the profile in his identity. Sudan was entered a civil war in April 2023 following a brutal contest for control erupted between its army and the RSF. This has resulted in a starvation emergency and claims of mass killing in the Darfur area. Over 150,000 individuals have been killed in the fighting around the country, and roughly 12 million have abandoned their residences in what the United Nations has called the biggest global humanitarian crisis. The takeover of el-Fasher solidifies the territorial division in the country, with the Rapid Support Forces now in command of Sudan's west and much of neighbouring Kordofan to the southern area, and the army controlling the capital, Khartoum, central and eastern regions along the coastal region. The two warring rivals had been partners - taking over together in a takeover in 2021 - but fell out over an foreign-endorsed plan to transition to civilian rule.