Darfur conflict engulfs towns, threatens aid operation
As Darfur’s conflict enters its fourth year and fighting engulfs main towns, the world’s largest humanitarian operation in Sudan’s remote west has become increasingly threatened. The clashes which drove some 2.5 million Darfuris from their homes and killed an estimated 200,000 were concentrated in remote villages in the early stages of the conflict. But the terror has spread to Darfur’s main towns, affecting many of the 14,000 aid workers based there. “These places were safe havens before,” said Alun MacDonald, spokesman for British aid agency Oxfam. “Our headquarters are in the town, so it does affect operations,” he said. “It’s frustrating.” Full Story