In excess of 60,000 Flee Sudanese City In the wake of Capture by Rapid Support Forces Paramilitary Group, UN States

According to the UNHCR, over 60,000 civilians have escaped the city in Sudan of el-Fasher, which was captured by the militia RSF during the weekend.

There have been mass executions and crimes against humanity as paramilitary forces stormed the city following an 18-month blockade marked by famine and heavy bombardment.

The movement of those running from the violence towards the town of Tawila, approximately 80km (50 miles) west of el-Fasher, had accelerated in the last several days, as stated by United Nations refugee agency spokesperson.

They were describing terrible stories of atrocities, such as rape, and the organization was struggling to find sufficient housing and food for them.

Each child was suffering from undernourishment, she added.

Estimates suggest that in excess of 150,000 individuals are currently unable to leave in el-Fasher, which had been the military's last bastion in the western part of Darfur.

The RSF has rejected extensive accusations that the deaths in el-Fasher are driven by ethnicity and follow a trend of the Arab militia groups focusing on ethnic minorities.

However the paramilitary group has arrested one of its fighters, Abu Lulu, who has been accused of summary executions.

The organization distributed video showing the militiaman's apprehension following identification that he was behind the execution of several unarmed men close to el-Fasher.

Video sharing service has verified that it has banned the profile connected to Lulu. It is not clear whether he had controlled the account in his name.

Sudan was thrown into a civil war in April 2023 when a intense contest for control erupted between its military and the Rapid Support Forces.

The conflict has caused a starvation emergency and allegations of genocide in the Darfur area.

Over 150,000 individuals have been killed in the war across the country, and about 12 million have abandoned their residences in what the UN has called the world's largest humanitarian crisis.

The takeover of el-Fasher solidifies the territorial division in the country, with the RSF now in control of Sudan's west and much of bordering Kordofan to the south, and the army holding the main city, Khartoum, the center and east along the Red Sea.

The competing factions had been partners - taking over together in a seizure of power in 2021 - but split over an foreign-endorsed proposal to move towards civilian rule.