By Prensa Latina
United Nations : Air raids on the volatile province of Darfur, Sudan forced the UN High Commissioner for Refugees to halt assistance to people fleeing toward neighboring Chad.
UNHCR had a team in Birak, on the common border with Chad, but the bombings of several villages in western Darfur Monday night and Tuesday morning forced the team to move to safer zones.
Jennifer Pagonis, UNHCR spokeswoman in Geneva, said UN officials reported several Sudanese fighter planes bombed villages near Abu Sharow Refugee Camp and non confirmed reports indicate it has been hit by bombers aiming at rebel-controlled areas.
UN officials are negotiating with Chad to transfer refugees away from the border as they expect renewed outbreaks of air and land violence from the Arab Janjaweed Militias, allies of Khartoum.
This renewed violence will undoubtedly have a negative impact on UN and African Union efforts to negotiate an accord between the government of Sudan and the rebels.