More than 60,000 people have fled the Sudanese city of el-Fasher, which was captured by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) over the weekend, according to the UN refugee agency.
Reports indicate mass executions and crimes against humanity as RSF fighters overtook the city following an 18-month siege characterized by starvation and heavy bombardment.
The exodus towards the town of Tawila, situated approximately 80 kilometers west of el-Fasher, has escalated in recent days, with many fleeing individuals recounting horrific stories of violence, including sexual assaults. UNHCR’s Eujin Byun stated that shelter and food supplies are woefully inadequate to meet the urgent needs of those displaced.
Alarming reports also indicate that every child among the fleeing population is suffering from malnutrition. As the violent takeover unfolds, an estimated 150,000 individuals remain trapped within el-Fasher, which had formerly been the army's last stronghold in the western region of Darfur.
The RSF has denied claims that the violence is ethnically motivated, despite widespread allegations of Arab paramilitaries targeting non-Arab populations. However, it has reportedly detained an alleged executioner, Abu Lulu, amidst growing international scrutiny fueled by social media evidence linking him to multiple killings.
Since the onset of a civil war in April 2023, the situation in Sudan has deteriorated drastically, leading to famine and claims of genocide in Darfur. The conflict has resulted in over 150,000 deaths and around 12 million people displaced, prompting the UN to label the crisis as the world’s largest humanitarian emergency.
The current crisis solidifies the geographic division in Sudan, with RSF controlling the western region and much of Kordofan to the south, while the national army holds the capital of Khartoum and eastern regions along the Red Sea. Once allies, the two factions fell into conflict over disagreements regarding a transition to civilian governance.
