Sudan will set up 18 "settlements" in strife-torn western Darfur to house more than a million people who fled the fighting and will train them to use guns to defend themselves, a newspaper reported yesterday.

The independent Al-Sahafa daily quoted Interior Minister Major General Abdel Rahim Mohamed Hussein as announcing the plan amid heavy US and international pressure to end the humanitarian crisis.

Hussein said eight settlements would be set up in Southern Darfur state and five each in Western and Northern Darfur states.

The plan will "facilitate offering services and protection of the villagers who were previously living in numerous scattered villages," the minister said.

At least 10 000 people have been killed in Darfur since February 2003 when rebels rose up against Khartoum, prompting the government to give marauding Janjawid militia a free rein to attack villages.

The World Health Organisation has warned that some 10 000 more people are likely to die over the coming month in Darfur without a massive aid operation.

About 900 000 of the displaced are spread across 130 makeshift camps with little water, no sanitation and poor health care.

The onset of the rainy season is expected to make their situation worse and many of the displaced are still afraid to return home because of the Janjaweed.

Hussein, who is also the presidential representative in Darfur and holds considerable power over the area, added that the displaced "will be trained in carrying weapons so they can take part in defending themselves in the new positions."

The measures are in addition to steps Khartoum announced earlier this week during visits to Darfur by US secretary of State Colin Powell and UN chief Kofi Annan, including sending more government forces to provide security and easing restrictions on humanitarian groups.

However the minister described the food situation in Darfur as satisfactory, saying there were now 117 000 tons of provisions which could meet the region's needs for several months. – Sapa-AFP.