Peace in Darfur is "UN priority" says Ban

In an attempt to bring peace to the war-torn country, ministers from 26 countries attended high-level talks in New York, chaired by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

The violence in Darfur has killed about 200,000 people and displaced 2.5 million from their homes, according to estimates. There is not enough medicine to treat all those in need. Ban Ki-moon said that there needs to be a peaceful political solution and this must be a priority for the UN.

The meeting also prepared peace negotiations for next month in Libya between Sudan’s government and about a dozen rebel groups.

Back in 2003, local rebel groups took up arms against the government. The Sudanese officials are being accused of unleashing a pro-government militant group to fight the rebels. In the meantime, the human rights organisations say the victims of the Darfur conflict daily suffer atrocities like beatings, robbery and murder.