Last reviewed: 23-03-2010
The United Nations has described Sudan's western Darfur region as one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.
- 2.7 million uprooted
- One of world's largest relief operations
- Restricted access for peacekeepers and aid workers
The conflict flared in 2003 when rebels in Darfur took up arms, accusing the government of neglecting the region.
Since then, civilians have come under attack from government troops, nomadic militia and rebel groups. The United Nations says as many as 300,000 people may have died. Khartoum puts the figure at 10,000.
The violence has also forced some 2.7 million people - mostly farmers and villagers from non-Arab groups - to flee their homes. The majority are living in camps in Darfur, but thousands have fled across the border to Chad.
Khartoum denies accusations it has used Arab militias, known as Janjaweed, to crush the revolt.
But in March 2009, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Sudan's president for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur, in which it said the Janjaweed were allied to the Sudanese armed forces.
Soon afterwards the government expelled 13 international agencies from Sudan and three local agencies from Darfur.
Since then few reports have been published on the humanitarian situation in the region. News agencies have very limited access, and aid agencies are reluctant to speak out for fear they will be expelled.
A combined United Nations-African Union peacekeeping force began deploying in 2008, taking over from a small, overstretched AU force. The deployment followed protracted wrangling between the international community and Khartoum, and peacekeepers still face government restrictions on movement and access.
In 2009, the United Nations' outgoing military commander said the conflict was effectively over, and isolated attacks and banditry were Darfur's main problems. But relief agencies still permitted to work there face obstacles in accessing much of the region because of insecurity, the threat of kidnap and government restrictions.
A key rebel group signed a peace deal with the government in early 2010.
The conflict has spilled over Sudan's borders into eastern Chad and Central African Republic.
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