Peace in Darfur is remote, Ban says

UNITED NATIONS, April 17 (UPI) -- A U.N. report says the prospect of peace in Darfur is only a remote possibility as the Sudanese government and rebels continue military aggressions.

The report is also highly critical of the international community, calling the lack of logistical support and aid a disappointment. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said there is only a dim prospect currently of a peaceful solution in the war-ravaged region of Sudan and that the U.N. joint mission with the African Union is still in desperate need of helicopters, transport and other support from a less than forthcoming international community, the United Nations reported.

"I am extremely disappointed in the lack of progress on all fronts," Ban said in the report. "The parties appear determined to pursue a military solution; the political process stalled; the deployment of UNAMID is progressing very slowly and continues to face many challenges; and the humanitarian situation is not improving. … It is critical that the international community recognize its own central role in supporting the mission."

U.N. estimate says more than 200,000 people have been killed over the last five years of fighting, while as many as 2.5 million others have been forced from their homes because of the violence.