On Tuesday afternoon, September 23, 2025, a drone strike in the war-battered city of el-Fasher, North Darfur, killed at least 15 people and wounded 12 more at a bustling marketplace, according to aid workers and local activist groups. The attack, attributed to Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), marks yet another grim chapter in a conflict that has devastated the region and left millions on the brink of survival.
The Emergency Response Rooms (ERR), a local aid group, relayed the casualty figures to The Associated Press, citing reports from doctors and ERR team members on the ground. One ERR aid worker, who spoke under the condition of anonymity due to fears of RSF retaliation, described the scene as chaotic and tragic, with the market—usually a vital hub for residents—turned into a site of mourning and destruction. The Resistance Committees in el-Fasher, a network of local activists monitoring the conflict, confirmed the strike and its timing in a Facebook statement, calling it a "brutal attack that comes in a series of countless repeated massacres" by the RSF. They accused the group of seeking "to bring the city to its knees and break the will of its residents."
This drone strike came just days after another harrowing incident in el-Fasher: a reported RSF attack on a mosque that left at least 70 people dead, including worshippers and three medical staff. The proximity and scale of these attacks have sent shockwaves through the community, amplifying fears among civilians who already live under siege conditions. The Resistance Committees have characterized these events as part of a daily pattern of violence, asserting that the RSF is engaged in a campaign of terror meant to force the city into submission.
Despite the severity of the latest market attack, the RSF has not publicly acknowledged it on their official Telegram channel. Instead, the group has issued statements boasting of advances in el-Fasher and claiming the evacuation of "hundreds of civilians," though they have provided no evidence to support these assertions. Such claims have been met with skepticism by local residents, aid workers, and international observers, who note that safe passage out of the city remains perilous and unreliable at best.
The conflict between the RSF and Sudan’s military began in 2023 and swiftly spiraled into a nationwide civil war. According to the World Health Organization, the violence has killed at least 40,000 people and displaced an estimated 12 million others. The World Food Programme now reports that over 24 million Sudanese are acutely food insecure—a staggering figure that underscores the scale of the humanitarian crisis gripping the country.
El-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, has become the last major stronghold for the Sudanese military in the sprawling Darfur region. Fighting in and around the city has intensified since April 2025, with hundreds of civilians reported killed in RSF attacks alone, according to a recent report by the UN Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner. The city’s strategic importance has made it a focal point for both sides, but civilians have paid the highest price, caught in the crossfire and increasingly cut off from essential supplies.
Humanitarian organizations describe the situation in Darfur as dire. Access to healthcare, food, and clean water has been severely compromised, and aid deliveries are frequently disrupted by ongoing violence. The region’s fragile health infrastructure has been further strained by a growing cholera outbreak. The World Health Organization reported on Tuesday that more than 3,000 people across Sudan have died from cholera in the past 14 months—a period that coincides with the escalation of the civil war. The outbreak, which began in July 2024, has spread to all 18 states of the country, fueled by contaminated food and water and the collapse of basic sanitation services.
The suffering in Darfur is compounded by widespread reports of atrocities committed by both the RSF and the Sudanese military. The UN and various human rights organizations have accused both sides of ethnic cleansing, extrajudicial killings, and sexual violence against civilians, including children. These abuses have deepened the wounds of a population already traumatized by decades of conflict and displacement.
For many residents of el-Fasher and the broader Darfur region, daily life has become a struggle for survival. The market that was struck by the drone—once a symbol of community and resilience—now stands as a grim reminder of the dangers that lurk even in the most ordinary places. The ERR aid worker who spoke to the Associated Press described the overwhelming sense of loss and fear permeating the city. "People are scared to leave their homes, but they have no choice. They need food, they need water, and there are so few safe places left," the worker said.
International agencies have repeatedly called for greater access to deliver humanitarian aid and for all parties to respect the rights and safety of civilians. Yet, as the violence continues unabated, the prospects for peace and relief seem distant. The ongoing siege of el-Fasher, coupled with the relentless attacks on civilian targets, has left many questioning what, if anything, can be done to halt the bloodshed.
Against this bleak backdrop, the resilience of local communities and aid workers stands out. Groups like the Resistance Committees and Emergency Response Rooms risk their lives daily to document abuses, care for the wounded, and provide whatever support they can. Their efforts, however, are often overshadowed by the scale of the crisis and the seeming indifference of those wielding power on the ground.
The international community faces a stark challenge: how to respond effectively to a conflict that has already claimed tens of thousands of lives and threatens millions more. With both sides accused of grave abuses and little sign of a negotiated settlement, the humanitarian disaster in Darfur—and across Sudan—shows no sign of abating.
As the sun sets over el-Fasher, the city’s battered residents brace for another uncertain night. The drone strike at the marketplace is only the latest tragedy in a war that has upended countless lives. For now, the hope for peace remains just that—a hope, fragile and elusive, in a landscape marked by loss and resilience.
