The European Commission has allocated a further €17 million for life-saving humanitarian assistance to the victims of the Darfur crisis in Sudan bringing its contribution for 2006 to a total amount of €97 million. Up to four million people are affected and around two million are displaced. More than 210,000 have sought refuge in Chad. At the same time, because of the spill-over of the conflict into Chad, thousands of Chadian have crossed the border in the other direction and are now refugees in Darfur.

Chad rebels are dismissing an effort by President Idriss Deby to reach out to one of the many rebel movements operating near the border with Sudan. VOA's Nico Colombant reports from our regional bureau in Dakar that there has been a recent lull in rebel operations, but intercommunal violence is being reported again.