The paramilitary forces have maintained a siege on El-Fasher since May, leading to the declaration of famine in the Zamzam refugee camp.

According to a report from AFP, a recent paramilitary attack on a market in the Sudanese city of El-Fasher resulted in the deaths of 18 individuals, as confirmed by a medical source on Friday. This attack comes amidst global leaders calling for an end to the ongoing wartime suffering in the country.

The shelling of the market, attributed to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Thursday evening, also led to numerous injuries, as reported by activists. This violence occurs as the paramilitary group and the regular army continue to compete for control over North Darfur’s capital, 17 months into the conflict that has engulfed the northeastern African nation.

A source at El-Fasher Teaching Hospital, who spoke on condition of anonymity for safety reasons, revealed, "We received last night at the hospital 18 dead," noting that some victims were burned while others sustained severe injuries from shrapnel.

The situation in Sudan, particularly in El-Fasher, has been a topic of discussion this week during the United Nations General Assembly in New York. U.S. Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield stated on Wednesday, "We must compel the warring parties to accept humanitarian pauses in El-Fasher, Khartoum, and other highly vulnerable areas."

There have been renewed calls for a ceasefire. The Teaching Hospital in El-Fasher is one of the few medical facilities still operating in the area. Reports of a "full-scale assault" by the RSF on the city over the past weekend prompted UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to call for an immediate ceasefire.

Since May, the RSF has besieged El-Fasher, leading to the declaration of famine in the Zamzam refugee camp located near the city, which is home to two million residents. The ongoing war in Sudan has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of people. The World Health Organization has reported a death toll of at least 20,000; however, U.S. envoy Tom Perriello has indicated that some estimates may reach as high as 150,000.

U.S. President Joe Biden expressed particular concern regarding the assault on El-Fasher during remarks on Tuesday. He urged all nations to halt the supply of weapons to the country’s rival generals: Sudanese Armed Forces chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo.