At least 18 killed in attack on El Fasher market

September 26, 2024 (EL FASHER) – At least 18 people were killed and more than 40 wounded when shells hit a busy market in the Sudanese city of El Fasher on Thursday, a doctor and witnesses said, the latest attack in a surge of violence in the Darfur region.

El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state, has seen near-daily shelling and drone strikes since the conflict between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) erupted in mid-April. The fighting has killed thousands of civilians across the country, displaced millions, and triggered a humanitarian crisis.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but residents blamed the RSF, which has been battling the army for control of the city since May.

A doctor at the Saudi Hospital in El Fasher said at least 18 people had been killed and 41 wounded.

The Southern Hospital and the Medical Corps, where victims were taken, were struggling with shortages of supplies due to a blockade imposed on the city by the RSF, the doctor added.

The livestock market is one of the few still functioning in El Fasher and is frequented by large numbers of civilians every day. It was also shelled in August when more than 15 people were killed.

The director general of health in North Darfur state, Ibrahim Khater, gave a higher toll, saying eight people had been killed and 62 wounded.

The RSF began firing artillery shells at southern, northern and western neighbourhoods of El Fasher early on Thursday, residents said, in an escalation of the violence. Dozens of homes were also destroyed.