Darfur: an unremitting crisis
Sudan's western state of Darfur has been torn apart by a conflict which began in March 2003. Over four years later the violence shows no sign of ending, despite attempts at making peace between the warring parties.
Many thousands of innocent civilians have been killed and millions displaced as a result of the fighting. Four million people are in need of support, yet many aid agencies have found it impossible to work in the region.
Islamic Relief staff began working in West Darfur shortly after the start of the conflict, and continue to help people displaced by the fighting.
The conflict
It remains unclear exactly how many people have died in the four years since the conflict began, but the UN estimates that around 2.2 million have been uprooted from their homes. Many of these people are living in squalid conditions in overcrowded camps.
In May 2006, a peace deal between the Sudan government and the rebels failed to stop the conflict. Only one rebel faction respected the agreement, so fighting continued, with repeated atrocities committed against women and children.
The ongoing violence has also pushed people across the border into refugee camps in eastern Chad.
Farming abandoned across Darfur
Most of those who fled their villages are farmers; instead of working the land they have been forced to languish in the squalid refugee camps of Darfur. Local agricultural production has been ruined by the conflict – the planting season has been missed once again this year so there will be nothing to eat except handouts from the aid agencies.
Today, the crisis is still unresolved with millions of people unable to return home.