SUDAN in CRISIS..........IN DEPTH CRISIS

OVERVIEW:
PEOPLE: 7.6 million, who belong to many tribes, including the Fur, after whom the region is named. While some tribes describe themselves of African descent and others of Arab background, almost all people in Darfur are dark skinned. Practically all people in Darfur follow Islam.

GEOGRAPHY: North, South and West Darfur make up about one-fifth of Sudan's land area. Darfur consists primarily of an arid, sandy plateau with the Marrah Mountains in the center. Seasonal rivers and bore holes for tapping deep aquifers provide water for farmers and herders.

ECONOMY: Subsistance farmers, mostly settled along the few reliable water sources, grow tobacco, millet and fruits; Semi-nomadic herders tend camels in the north, and cattle in the south.Many people in Darfur, especially those of African descent, feel politically, economically and socially marginalized by the central government in Khartoum. This led to formation of militant groups, made up of predominantly African tribes, including the Fur, Zaghawa and Massaleit, most of whom are farmers.


THE HUMAN TOLL:
The Darfur war has become one of the world's bloodiest conflicts, with an estimated 450,000 killed and 2.3 million displaced since 2003. U.N. humanitarian aid chief John Holmes reported to the U.N. Security Council in April that up to 4 million people in Darfur depend on outside help.

RELIEF EFFORTS: In 2003 about 230 aid workers were assisting 350,000 people in Darfur. In 2007 more than 13,000 relief workers are trying to help 4 million people affected by the conflict.The United Nations and non-governmental aid organizations provide 95 percent of the aid for Darfur. Between $800 million and $1 billion is needed annually, according to the United Nations. U.N. agencies, including the World Food Program and UNICEF, operate throughout the area to provide shelter and relief to displaced people. The U.N. relief chief, John Holmes, reported to the Security Council that the aid operation is "increasingly fragile... Staff have been physically and verbally abused, offices and residences raided, and personal belongings stolen," he said. "Vehicles are routinely hijacked at gunpoint, often in broad daylight."

OTHER AID GROUPS: More than 100 non-governmental aid organizations raise funds and have relief workers in Darfur. They include the International Committee of the Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders, Mercy Corps, Oxfam and Islamic Relief and many smaller groups. At least a dozen aid workers have been killed in Darfur.

PEACE CEASE AGREEMENT:
Several cease-fire agreements have been negotiated between various rebel groups and the government, but they have all broken down. Sudan has tentatively agreed to allow up to 25,000 A.U. and U.N. peacekeepers into the country, up from the current contingent of 7,000 A.U. troops.

UNITED NATIONS: After refusing for months to allow a U.N. peacekeeping force into Darfur, President al-Bashir said in April 2007 he would allow an international force of 3,000 peacekeepers and U.N. attack helicopters into Sudan to protect civilians in Darfur and bolster an African Union force already there. The Sudanese government had backtracked several times since agreeing in November 2006 to a peacekeeping force.

AFRICAN UNION: A 7,000-member African Union force was deployed in Darfur in 2004. Since then, at least 15 of its members have been killed in attacks. The AU force is underfunded, underequipped and overwhelmed by their task. China in April 2007 promised to bolster the African Union force with a military engineering unit. China has been widely criticized for failing to bring pressure on the Sudan government to accept a large U.N. force inspite of its strong economic ties.

WAR CRIMES? The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants on May 2 against two Sudanese officials whom they believe to be responsible for war crimes and other crimes against humanity in Darfur, including murder, rape, torture and forced displacement of villagers. They are Ahmad Harun, former former state minister of interior, and Janjaweed commander Ali Mohammad Abd-al-Rahman. The Sudanese government has said it would not hand over the men.