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| Water find 'may end Darfur war' | Water find 'may end Darfur war' |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| A huge underground lake has been found in Sudan's Darfur region, scientists say, which they believe could help end the conflict in the arid region. | A huge underground lake has been found in Sudan's Darfur region, scientists say, which they believe could help end the conflict in the arid region. |
| Some 1,000 wells will be drilled in the region, with the agreement of Sudan's government, the Boston University researchers say. | Some 1,000 wells will be drilled in the region, with the agreement of Sudan's government, the Boston University researchers say. |
| Analysts say competition for resources between Darfur's Arab nomads and black African farmers is behind the conflict. | Analysts say competition for resources between Darfur's Arab nomads and black African farmers is behind the conflict. |
| More than 200,000 Darfuris have died and 2m fled their homes since 2003. | More than 200,000 Darfuris have died and 2m fled their homes since 2003. |
| "Much of the unrest in Darfur and the misery is due to water shortages," said geologist Farouk El-Baz, director of the Boston University Center for Remote Sensing, according to the AP news agency. | "Much of the unrest in Darfur and the misery is due to water shortages," said geologist Farouk El-Baz, director of the Boston University Center for Remote Sensing, according to the AP news agency. |
| "Access to fresh water is essential for refugee survival, will help the peace process, and provides the necessary resources for the much needed economic development in Darfur," he said. | "Access to fresh water is essential for refugee survival, will help the peace process, and provides the necessary resources for the much needed economic development in Darfur," he said. |
| Climate change | Climate change |
| The team used radar data to find the ancient lake, which was 30,750 km2 - the size of Lake Erie in North America - the 10th largest lake in the world. | |
| Radar finds water for refugees | Radar finds water for refugees |
| A similar discovery was made in Sudan's neighbour Egypt, where wells have been used to irrigate 150,000 acres of farmland, the researchers say. | A similar discovery was made in Sudan's neighbour Egypt, where wells have been used to irrigate 150,000 acres of farmland, the researchers say. |
| French researcher Alain Gachet has also been using satellite images to look for new water resources in Darfur. | French researcher Alain Gachet has also been using satellite images to look for new water resources in Darfur. |
| Last month, the UN Environmental Programme (Unep) said there was little prospect of peace in Darfur unless the issues of environmental destruction were addressed. | Last month, the UN Environmental Programme (Unep) said there was little prospect of peace in Darfur unless the issues of environmental destruction were addressed. |
| It said deserts had increased by an average of 100 km in the last 40 years, while almost 12% of forest cover had been lost in 15 years. | It said deserts had increased by an average of 100 km in the last 40 years, while almost 12% of forest cover had been lost in 15 years. |
| Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said climate change was partly to blame for the conflict in Darfur in an editorial for US newspaper The Washington Post in June. | Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said climate change was partly to blame for the conflict in Darfur in an editorial for US newspaper The Washington Post in June. |