United Nations condemns violence in Chad

UNITED NATIONS, June 17 (UPI) -- The United Nations is warning against the escalating violence recently renewed by rebel groups in eastern Chad.

The U.N. Security Council, along with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, called for an immediate end to the surge in hostilities. Officials say the series of attacks between Chad government forces and the Chadian Armed Opposition Group is threatening an already fragile security situation which could rapidly deteriorate the grim humanitarian crisis, the United Nations reported.

The secretary-general "condemns all attempts to destabilize the country and is concerned about the risk of a deterioration of the already grave humanitarian situation, especially in eastern Chad, where the international community is actively engaged in providing relief and securing the voluntary, safe and sustainable return of refugees and displaced persons," Ban said in a statement read by Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad of the United States.

Officials say the regional conflicts in Central African Republic and in the Darfur region of Sudan have only made the situation more difficult. Hundreds of thousands of citizens have been displaced as a result of the ongoing violence.