World Vision is preparing to respond to the possibility of escalating violence and deteriorating security in Darfur in the event that African Union peacekeepers leave the region before a long-term security solution can be found.

The international aid agency's emergency health specialist in Darfur, Henry Duba says, "Medical and human needs in Darfur are already beyond desperate, especially among women and children."

|PIC1|"Any further worsening of security would mean a decline in the capacity of aid organisations to respond and a consequent deterioration in the humanitarian situation."

World Vision fears life saving humanitarian aid could be reduced to a fraction of what is needed, with a possible pull-out of the African Union force from Darfur on September 30 when their mandate ends. In July and August alone, twelve humanitarian workers were killed in Darfur.

Several aid agencies, including World Vision, warned in early August that increasing insecurity in some areas was crippling their ability to reach people in need.

"If needs on the ground escalate further, while aid continues to be hindered by lack of security, we're looking at a nightmare scenario," says Rory Anderson, World Vision's Senior Policy Advisor for Africa. "A long-term solution must be found that can ensure the safety of civilians and the humanitarian workers serving them."

World Vision has provided humanitarian aid since 2004 in Darfur, where, according to UN figures, nearly 2 million people have been driven into temporary camps and 200,000 have perished during a three-year conflict between rebel groups and the government.

The charity is providing emergency food for up to 300,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in more than 20 camps across conflict-affected areas in South Darfur state, along with other interventions in water and sanitation, agriculture, health, nutrition and education.

As a Christian relief and development organisation, World Vision is dedicated to helping children and their communities worldwide reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty. The agency serves the world's poor - regardless of a person's religion, race, ethnicity, or gender.