El-fasher: Some 750 children have fled El-Fasher city in western Sudan without their families amid attacks by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a local group said Saturday. In a statement, the Darfur Displaced and Refugees Coordination Committee reported that over 36,000 people have escaped El-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state, due to escalating violence.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Sudanese group emphasized the urgent need for food among the displaced families, most of whom are now concentrated in Tawila, nearly 60 kilometers from El-Fasher. The committee called for increased pressure on the RSF and the army to enforce a ceasefire, highlighting reports of sexual violence against the displaced civilians from El-Fasher.

The group noted that the majority of displaced civilians suffer from severe malnutrition, with children and the elderly being the most affected. The El-Fasher Resistance Coordination, a grassroots committee, also reported that more than 450 children have reached safe areas without their families after becoming separated during the attacks and bombardment in the city.

Furthermore, many children and wounded individuals remain stranded without shelter or protection after fleeing El-Fasher. The committee disclosed that over 460 patients and injured people arrived in critical health conditions, lacking essential medical treatment and care.

On Wednesday, RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti) acknowledged that 'violations' had been committed by his forces in El-Fasher, stating that investigation committees had been established. Since April 15, 2023, the Sudanese army and the RSF have been engaged in a conflict that numerous regional and international efforts have failed to resolve. The ongoing war has resulted in the deaths of approximately 20,000 people and the displacement of over 15 million as refugees and internally displaced persons, according to UN and local reports.