U.N. Chief: Darfur Is in 'Free Fall' - AP

[applegrove]

U.N. Chief: Darfur Is in 'Free Fall'
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: December 6, 2006
Filed at 1:10 a.m. ET

UNITED NATIONS (AP) -- "The conflict in Darfur has spread to two neighboring countries and is now in ''free fall'' with six million people facing the prospect of going without food or protection, the outgoing U.N. humanitarian chief said Tuesday.

Jan Egeland, who steps down on Dec. 12, told The Associated Press in an interview that one of the most difficult problems he has faced was convincing countries of the dire situation in the western region of Sudan.

''I think some of the Arab countries and Asian countries have not really understood we're in a free fall. It's not a steady deterioration. It's a free fall and it includes Darfur, eastern Chad, northern Central African Republic,'' he said.

Egeland blamed the Sudanese government, parts of the rebel movement, ethnic leaders in Darfur, and the government of Chad for fueling the war, which began in 2003 when rebels from ethnic African tribes rose up against the Arab-led central government. Khartoum is accused of retaliating by unleashing the janjaweed militias of Arab nomads, who are accused of the worst atrocities.

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http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/world/AP-UN-Darfur.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin