Fighting between the Sudanese government and a rebel group has worsened plus ethnic fighting and clashes among rebel groups, resulted in 600 deaths in May alone, according to the UN and African Union peacekeeping mission there.
Witnesses and victims of recent attacks in central and west Darfur said that government forces killed and raped civilians, destroyed homes, and bombed water supplies, forcing thousands of people to flee their villages.
Human Rights Watch advised that as the UN Security Council renew the Darfur peacekeeping mission mandate late this month, council members should ensure that peacekeepers increase activities to protect civilians.