It also advocates an initiative now underway at the Security Council to transition the African Union force into a UN sponsored peacekeeping operation. Sadly. as a recent Security Council assessment shows. the dire situation in Darfur is only deteriorating further. Relief organizations are being denied entry. supplies are being cut off and humanitarian missions are being attacked. Civilian populations and refugee camps remain unprotected and the murderous rampages of Jangaweed militias continue unchecked. There is little progress in peace negotiations. The transition to a UN led peacekeeping mission with greater resources and an expanded mandate is the only hope for improving the situation on the ground.