N'DJAMENA, Chad - The United Nations' refugee agency withdrew its nine-member team from Chad due to an increasing level of violence in west Darfur along the Sudanese border.
The head of the field office for U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Jorge Holly said in a news release Wednesday that it was "frustrating" the group couldn't continued its mission amid the escalating violence in west Darfur.
The UNHCR staff withdrew following an aerial attack Tuesday on a refugee camp in west Darfur. UNHCR staff reported hearing explosions near their camp. Staff reported ground battles as well.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said through his spokesman that "a negotiated settlement to the Darfur conflict cannot take place amid continuing violence and the massive displacement of civilians."
U.N. officials said they were "very concerned" about the escalating situation, saying "the consequences for 20,000 civilians in this area could be disastrous."
The United Nations says the conflict in Darfur has resulted in more than 200,000 deaths and and displaced at least 2.2 million people.
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