BRUSSELS, Jan. 31 (UPI) -- The European Union announced that 3,700 troops from 14 member states will be deployed to Chad and the Central African Republic to protect some 2 million refugees from the humanitarian crisis in the Sudanese region of Darfur that has claimed 200,000 lives.

Fighting in Darfur between local militia groups and the government-backed Arab militia called Janjaweed often spills over into Chad and the CAR. The mission will consist of "short- medium- and long-range patrolling as well as quick-reaction force interventions where and when necessary," Irish Operation Commander Gen. Pat Nash said during a news conference in Brussels this week.

The EU mission won't have any of the logistical or other constraints placed on NATO's International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. Prompt help is needed in Darfur, however. A U.N.-AU mission to be deployed in Sudan has been severely delayed, causing concern for the safety of the EU mission.

But Nash said he doesn't think this will have a severe impact because of the distance of his troops from Sudan.

"We have no intention of crossing the Sudanese border and we have no responsibility for the Sudanese border," he said.