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 stormed the city after an 18-month siege characterized by starvation and heavy bombardment.
The flow of those fleeing the violence toward the town of Tawila, about 80km (50 miles) west of el-Fasher, has increased in recent days. Survivors recount harrowing stories of atrocities, including rape, while humanitarian agencies struggle to provide adequate shelter and food.
Every child among the displaced is reportedly suffering from malnutrition. It is estimated that over 150,000 people remain trapped in el-Fasher, which has been the army's last stronghold in Darfur.
The RSF has denied allegations that the killings in el-Fasher are ethnically motivated, despite widespread reports that Arab paramilitaries are targeting non-Arab populations.
Conflict erupted in Sudan in April 2023, leading to claims of genocide and famine in the Darfur region. The fighting has resulted in over 150,000 deaths nationwide and the displacement of around 12 million people, marking the UN's declaration of the world's largest humanitarian crisis.
The RSF's takeover of el-Fasher reinforces the geographic split in Sudan, with the RSF controlling western Sudan and large areas of neighboring Kordofan, while the army maintains control over Khartoum and the eastern regions along the Red Sea.
This tumultuous situation evolved from an alliance formed during a coup in 2021, which has since deteriorated into violent power struggles.
