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According to the UN refugee agency, more than 60,000 civilians have fled the city in Sudan of el-Fasher, which was taken over by the militia Rapid Support Forces during the weekend.

Reports indicate mass executions and crimes against humanity as militia members took control of the city after an extended blockade characterized by food shortages and heavy bombardment.

The exodus of those running from the violence towards the town of Tawila, approximately 80km (50 miles) west of el-Fasher, had accelerated in the recent days, as stated by UNHCR spokesperson.

Refugees were narrating terrible stories of atrocities, such as sexual violence, and the humanitarian group was struggling to secure enough accommodation and nourishment for them.

Each child was affected by nutritional deficiencies, she noted.

It is estimated that over 150,000 people are still trapped in el-Fasher, which had been the army's last bastion in the western region of Darfur.

The RSF has disputed extensive allegations that the executions in el-Fasher are based on ethnic factors and resemble a pattern of the Arab fighters focusing on ethnic minorities.

Yet the RSF has arrested one of its members, Abu Lulu, who has been implicated in summary executions.

The force shared recordings depicting the militiaman's arrest after verification that he was responsible for the death of numerous civilians near el-Fasher.

Digital platform has verified that it has banned the channel associated with Lulu. The status remains unclear whether he had controlled the profile in his name.

Sudan was entered a civil war in April 2023 following a brutal contest for control began between its military and the RSF.

This has led to a starvation emergency and accusations of genocide in the Darfur area.

In excess of 150,000 individuals have been killed in the fighting around the country, and roughly 12 million have fled their residences in what the United Nations has termed the biggest global humanitarian crisis.

The capture of el-Fasher solidifies the geographic split in the country, with the Rapid Support Forces now in dominance of western Sudan and much of neighbouring Kordofan to the southern area, and the army controlling the main city, Khartoum, central and eastern regions along the coastal region.

The opposing sides had been collaborators - gaining control together in a takeover in 2021 - but split over an foreign-endorsed proposal to advance to civilian leadership.