The medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières says homeless children are dying in Darfur as the world responds too slowly to Sudan's crisis, leaving thousands more at risk.
The UK-based charity Oxfam's aircraft carrying water-purifying and sanitation equipment for a camp of 60,000 people arrived in Nyala in southern Darfur today, only the charity's third plane to reach the area.
The EU has urged the UN to consider sanctions on Sudan, but Security Council splits have so far hampered similar efforts by the US.
The EU said it would send a civilian and military team to the region to assess how to help an observer mission by the African Union, and would increase its humanitarian support.
Rights groups say Sudan's government backs Janjaweed Arab militia, whom the rebels accuse of looting and burning African villages in a campaign of ethnic cleansing.
Last night, a group calling itself Mohammed's Army called on Muslims to prepare to fight western forces sent on any mission to western Sudan.
Many countries demand Khartoum disarm the Janjaweed and have disregarded official denials of involvement.
The African Union said it was still trying to revive stalled peace talks between the government and rebels, and to send ceasefire observers to Darfur, despite delays.
But both the rebel groups, the Sudan Liberation Movement and the Justice and Equality Movement, have demanded that the government disarms the militias as promised last April.
