Hundreds of children terrified' and alone after fleeing Sudan's el-Fasher

"Children are reaching Tawila exhausted and deeply distressed, often after days of walking through the desert, the group said. Many arrive terrified of the armed groups they fled from or might have encountered on the road. Many became separated from their parents during the chaos of flight, while others' parents are believed to have gone missing, been detained or killed."

"The RSF seized control of el-Fasher the capital of Sudan's North Darfur state on October 26 after an 18-month siege that cut residents off from food, medicine and other critical supplies. The paramilitary group, which has been battling the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) for control of Sudan since April 2023, has been accused of committing mass killings, kidnappings and widespread acts of sexual violence in its takeover of the city."

"Hundreds of Sudanese children have arrived in the town of Tawila in Sudan's western Darfur region without their parents since the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) seized control of the city of el-Fasher last month, a humanitarian group says. The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) said on Thursday that at least 400 unaccompanied children had arrived in Tawila but that the real number was likely much higher."

At least 400 unaccompanied children have reached Tawila, with the true number likely higher. Children arrive exhausted and deeply distressed after days of walking through the desert and many are terrified of armed groups encountered along the route. Numerous children became separated from parents during chaotic flight, while others' parents are believed missing, detained, or killed. The RSF seized el-Fasher on October 26 after an 18-month siege that cut residents off from food, medicine and other critical supplies. The RSF faces accusations of mass killings, kidnappings and widespread sexual violence while denying deliberate targeting of civilians. More than 100,000 people fled el-Fasher and at least 15,000 new arrivals have been registered in Tawila.

Read at www.aljazeera.com