UPDATE

The GoS has begun a massive offensive in West Darfur, and has already 'flattened' and 'burned to the ground' Sirba and Abu Suruj in Northern West Darfur, according to one aid worker. 200 people have been killed, according to unconfirmed reports.

As I write this, the JEM is fighting the GoS in Silea.

Also, on the other side of the world, the UN Security Council deliberates the situation in Darfur and the delays in the deployment of the UNAMID forces.

Jan Eliasson, United Nations special envoy to Sudan, and Jean Marie Guéhenno, Under Secretary for Peacekeeping Missions, stated at a UN press conference this morning that West Darfur is in a 'war situation,' and that if this crisis continues to escalate, UNAMID will be completely ineffective in protecting civilians from violence.

"We would like to be in a position to protect the civilians who will be the main victims of that war, because their houses will be burned, they will be displaced, they will run away from the figting… Many people thought that this would happen, North of Al Geneina, but at this stage we have very limited resources - 9,000 [total peacekeepers], that is only 7,500 troops and many of them do not have the resources to have any presence," said Guéhenno.

"At the moment… the people of Darfur expect the world of us," he continued, "and we would want to give them what they hope for, but we are not in a position to do so. If there is a significant loss of life, if they see that we cannot meet their expectations - and their expectations are very high - then it will be a very difficult situation for everybody."