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According to the United Nations refugee organization, more than 60,000 people have escaped the Sudanese city of el-Fasher, which was taken over by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces during the weekend.

Accounts suggest summary killings and crimes against humanity as RSF fighters entered the city after an extended blockade characterized by starvation and sustained attacks.

The flow of those fleeing the conflict towards the town of Tawila, about 80km (50 miles) to the west of el-Fasher, had increased in the last several days, per United Nations refugee agency spokesperson.

Refugees were describing horrendous stories of abuses, featuring rape, and the organization was having trouble to find enough shelter and supplies for them.

Every child was experiencing malnutrition, she added.

It is estimated that more than 150,000 individuals are currently stranded in el-Fasher, which had been the military's remaining bastion in the western region of Darfur.

The RSF has denied broad allegations that the deaths in el-Fasher are based on ethnic factors and follow a pattern of the Arab fighters focusing on non-Arab communities.

Yet the paramilitary group has arrested one of its militiamen, Abu Lulu, who has been accused of extrajudicial killings.

The force distributed footage depicting the member's detention subsequent to verification that he was responsible for the execution of multiple non-combatants close to el-Fasher.

Social media platform has verified that it has removed the profile connected to Lulu. Uncertainty exists whether he had managed the profile in his name.

Sudan was thrown into a internal conflict in April 2023 when a vicious contest for control broke out between its military and the Rapid Support Forces.

This has resulted in a starvation emergency and accusations of ethnic cleansing in the western Darfur region.

In excess of 150,000 individuals have lost their lives in the war around the country, and roughly 12 million have left their dwellings in what the UN has described as the most extensive humanitarian crisis.

The seizure of el-Fasher strengthens the geographic split in the country, with the Rapid Support Forces now in dominance of the western region and significant areas of bordering Kordofan to the south, and the military holding the main city, Khartoum, central and eastern areas along the coastal region.

The competing factions had been collaborators - taking over together in a seizure of power in 2021 - but disagreed over an foreign-endorsed proposal to advance to civilian leadership.