More Darfuris flee, begging for UN troops to help

By Opheera McDoom

ARDAMATA CAMP, Darfur, (Reuters) - Four years after the Darfur conflict erupted, new refugees continue to pour into growing makeshift camps telling of murder, pillage and rape.

In Ardamata in West Darfur, thousands have only torn plastic sheeting propped up by sticks as shelter from dust and searing sun, after militia attacks drove them from their homes.

Tired aid workers battle on in the world's largest humanitarian operation to provide food and healthcare to those who are fleeing attacks on their villages and on the roads.

Those who have suffered for years are also tired of waiting for U.N. forces. An African Union (AU) force mandated to protect civilians, they say, does nothing to help and its troops are usually too scared themselves to leave their camp.

"The only way to solve this problem is for the United Nations to come here to protect us," said Abdallah Hamad, whose village was attacked in December, forcing him to seek a haven in Ardamata, near the state capital el-Geneina.

He said the AU troops were incapable of fighting the militia, known as Janjaweed.

"The African Union are useless. They themselves need U.N. protection," he said. He added that when armed militia entered the camp a few days earlier, the AU troops fled. Read more >>>