Refugees International has launched its fifth mission to Sudan in the last 12 months.  A team comprised of Ken Bacon, Eileen Shields-West and Shannon Meehan will focus on security in the western region of Darfur and the steps necessary to enable refugees and displaced people to return to their homes. Fighting between rebel and government forces has triggered vicious attacks against civilians.  As a result, some two million people --- one third the population of Darfur --- have fled from their farms and villages. Most are living in huge camps in Sudan, but some 200,000 are living as refugees in Chad. The displaced won't return home until the fighting stops and they feel secure.

The team will approach the security issue from several directions:
 

• The African Union peace monitoring force:  In meetings in Addis Abbaba, Khartoum and Darfur, RI will focus on what more AU members and supporters can do to help the monitoring force reach its full capacity.

• The impact of the Naivasha accord on Darfur:  The recent agreement ending a 22-year civil war between the government in Khartoum and rebels in the south of Sudan should be a model for efforts to end the fighting in Darfur. The team will provide on the ground assessments of how to build on the Naivasha accord.  The UN Security Council is currently debating how to build new security structures in the south and in Darfur. 
  

• The delivery of humanitarian aid: The RI team will identify security improvements necessary to enhance the delivery of humanitarian aid.

• Protection of women: Past RI missions have focused on violence against women in Darfur and recommended new protections.  The rate of rape and other violent acts against women is extremely high in Darfur. This mission will attempt to assess the progress, if any, that has been made in efforts to protect women.