Sudan: Thousands 'displaced'

A surge in violence in north Darfur last month has displaced thousands of people, many of whom could be short of food and water, a UN official says. Gregory Alex, head of the Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (Ocha) in northern Darfur, said on Saturday around 24,000 people had fled their homes after clashes between government and rebel forces near the areas of Birmaza and Disa.