Sudan Crisis: Over 60,000 Displaced as RSF Takes El-Fasher

Sat Nov 01 2025 02:14:26 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A report from the UN highlights alarming displacement levels in Sudan, with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) capturing the city of El-Fasher, leading to mass evacuations and humanitarian concerns.

In the wake of the Rapid Support Forces' seizure of El-Fasher, more than 60,000 individuals have fled the city amidst reports of violence, including mass executions and human rights atrocities. The UN Refugee Agency confirms a significant rise in displacement, as those escaping the unrest share horrific accounts. The RSF's actions exacerbate the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Sudan, which has claimed over 150,000 lives since the onset of civil war in April 2023.

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 are surfacing of mass executions and crimes against humanity following the RSF's assault on the city after a prolonged 18-month siege characterized by starvation and relentless bombardment.

The influx of displaced individuals towards Tawila, located approximately 80 km (50 miles) west of el-Fasher, has surged recently, as noted by Eujin Byun, a representative from the UNHCR. Survivors recount horrifying tales of atrocities, including rape, complicating the agency's efforts to provide adequate shelter and food for the influx.

Every child encountered is reportedly suffering from malnutrition. It is estimated that over 150,000 individuals remain trapped in el-Fasher, which was previously the military's last bastion in the western region of Darfur.

The RSF has refuted widespread allegations claiming the killings in el-Fasher are racially motivated, asserting that the violence is not a continuation of a historical pattern where Arab paramilitaries attack non-Arab populations.

Nevertheless, the RSF has apprehended one of its members, Abu Lulu, accused of carrying out summary executions. The group published footage of his detention following investigations that categorized him as responsible for the execution of several unarmed men near el-Fasher.

In April 2023, civil war broke out in Sudan, marked by brutal power struggles between the army and the RSF, leading to famine and allegations of genocide in the western Darfur region. The conflict has resulted in over 150,000 fatalities nationwide, and approximately 12 million people have been displaced, characterizing this situation as the largest humanitarian crisis in the world, according to the UN.

The RSF's capture of el-Fasher delineates a geographical division within the nation, with RSF now controlling western Sudan and much of neighboring Kordofan, while the army maintains authority over the capital, Khartoum, and central to eastern regions along the Red Sea.

The two rival factions were once allies, having ousted former President Omar al-Bashir in a coup during 2021 but disagreed over a plan backed internationally to transition towards civilian rule.