Massacre and famine fears in besieged Darfur city

At the Abu Shouk camp on the northern fringe of El Fasher, about seven people arrive every day with injuries sustained from clashes between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and groups allied to Sudan's army.

- Zeinab Mohammed Salih

For months the RSF have been besieging El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state, trapping a million people in the last major population centre in Darfur not under paramilitary control. Earlier the city was protected by a fragile peace, but since April violence on its outskirts has soared after its two most powerful armed groups pledged to fight on the army's side.

Fighting is particularly intense near Abu Shouk, where the army-aligned groups are taking on RSF fighters to the north. Shells have fallen in the camp, killing dozens.

Injuries are far from the only challenge facing Haroun Adam Haroun, the sole doctor at Abu Shouk. Hundreds have died from malnutrition and scores of malaria cases are registered every day. Haroun is also troubled by a respiratory disease that has swept the camp.

"I am very sad people are dying from preventable causes and we cannot do anything for them," he said. "There is an extreme lack of medicines and funding."