An infection spreading...

In a May 15 post about the crisis in Darfur in western Sudan, I mentioned there was concern about the violence spilling over into Chad. (The other posts were on May 5, May 31, June 2, and June 5.)

Now it appears that concern is more than justified. From the BBC for June 18 comes news that authorities in Chad say they killed 69 members of the Arab militias known as "Janjaweed" after they attacked a village nearly four miles (six kilometers) inside Chad. The Janjaweed are those carrying out a violent campaign of ethnic cleansing against the African inhabitants of Darfur.

Chad's government is worried that Sudan's Arab militia is trying to export ethnic violence from Darfur. ...

The BBC's Abakar Saleh in the Chad capital, Ndjamena, says the authorities there are "very worried" that the Janjaweed are trying to stir up trouble amongst Chad's Arab population.

"There is a hidden force trying to export the conflict between the Sudanese into Chad," said Allami Ahmat, diplomatic advisor to Chadian President Idriss Deby.

Chad has been trying to mediate between Darfur rebels and the central government, thus far without success.

Meanwhile, human rights and relief groups say

they are in a "race against time" to get aid to those who have fled their homes in Darfur before the rainy season makes the areas impassable.

The first rains have already started to fall....

The BBC also provided a list of agencies attempting to relieve the suffering of the refugees. It says contributions can be made through each group's website.

-- The United Nations World Food Program is seeking $200 million to feed refugees in the area.
-- Medecins Sans Frontieres (Physicians Without Borders) is working to combat malaria and malnutrition in west Darfur.
-- Oxfam is providing clean water supplies and sanitation to the refugee camps where one Oxfam worker described "80 families living together in one compound without any shelter and only one latrine."
-- Islamic Relief has also launched an appeal and food has already been distributed to around 18,000 people.
-- The United Nations Childrens Fund, UNICEF, is seeking to vaccinate children against disease in the refugee camps. It has appealed for $46 million.
-- Save the Children has already distributed plastic sheeting and water storage cans in the area.
-- Care International is working in Chad to help alleviate conditions for refugees who have crossed the border.
-- CAFOD, the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development is working with partners in Southern Darfur to provide clean water, shelter, supplementary feeding in camps for the displaced.
-- Medair is providing treatment kits for malaria, cholera, and dysentery.