SUDAN U.N. chief worries about refugees' fate

Aid workers are in the region, but the militias aren't disarmed.
UNITED NATIONS (AP) -- Thousands of Sudanese who fled their homes because of attacks by government-backed militias in the Darfur region are being forced to leave refugee camps and return to their villages, the U.N. humanitarian chief said.
Jan Egeland, who has been outspoken about the crisis in Darfur, said the United Nations has received reports of "big pressure" forcing people from camps in western Darfur. That goes against U.N. principles and a U.N. agreement with the Sudanese government that all returns must be voluntary.
"This enforced movement of people is very, very, very, very worrisome at the moment," he said. "This is one of the key points to monitor in the next days and weeks -- that return is voluntary and that security is re-established for the civilian population."
Getting worse
Egeland said the Sudanese government has improved access for humanitarian workers and allowed relief supplies into the country. But the militias -- known as Janjaweed -- have not been disarmed and demobilized and the security situation is getting worse.
"Our trucks are looted. Our humanitarian workers are threatened and attacked, and that's not necessarily only the fault of the government," he said.
U.N. associate spokeswoman Marie Okabe said there were reports of increased Arab militia presence as well as tribal clashes and fighting between government forces and rebels from the Sudan Liberation Army.
The United States and humanitarian groups accuse the government of backing the Janjaweed during a 15-month conflict that has killed up to 30,000 people, forced over 1 million to flee their homes, and left 2.2 million in desperate need of food and medicine. The government denies supporting the militias.
What started fighting
The fighting began when two groups drawn from Darfur's African tribes took up arms over what they regard as unjust treatment by the government in their struggle over land and resources with Arab countrymen.
The Arab militias began attacking the black Africans, and some human rights groups have accused them of ethnic cleansing and genocide.
In visits earlier this month, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell and U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said the government must rein in the militias and provide security so people can return to their homes.
Annan signed an agreement with Sudan's Foreign Minister Mustafa Osman Ismail on June 3 that calls for disarming the militias, deploying 6,000 Sudanese soldiers and policemen to improve security, facilitating humanitarian aid, and allowing African Union troops and human rights monitors into Darfur.
The first meeting on implementing the agreement will take place today in Khartoum.