Despite evidence of war crimes in Sudan and crimes against humanity, Canada says it is still "premature" to describe the situation as genocide.

"We're supporting very strongly the Security Council resolution calling for an independent investigation of the possibility of genocide," Aileen Carroll, the Minister for International Cooperation, told CTV's Question Period on Sunday.

"And we're willing to stay with that -- at this time."

Carroll spoke to CTV from Khartoum, where she is leading a Canadian delegation to Darfur in the western part of Sudan.

When asked if Ottawa would echo the warning of U.S. Secretary of State, Colin Powell, and call the situation "genocide," Carroll stuck to a more nuanced diplomatic tone.

"The decision to use that word may still be premature," she said.

Darfur was plunged into crisis 19 months ago, when civil war broke out. The situation has become increasingly desperate ever since.

Last month, the World Health Organization said 10,000 people were dying every month in the region, and that more than 1.2 million others have been displaced from their homes and forced to live in camps with little or no food, shelter or water.

African Union monitors situation

Right now, the African Union has about 80 military observers monitoring the situation in Darfur. They're being helped by 300 UN soldiers.

Carroll said the Martin government is satisfied -- so far -- with the work being done in the region by the AU.

The minister also re-iterated the Prime Minister's pledge to the United Nations last week to give $20 million to assist the African Union forces.

"I think they're doing a very good job. It's a new field for them, but nevertheless there's a great sense everywhere that this is Africa responding to this dilemma," Carroll told CTV.

The fighting in Darfur developed after years of low-level conflict between Arab nomads and African farmers.

Revolt started in 2003

In February 2003, rebels launched a revolt in the region, seeking to end years of political and economic neglect.

The rebels also accused the government of enlisting the help of Arab militias, known as Janjaweed, to loot and burn African villages.

The government in Khartoum admits arming some militias to fight the rebels, but denies any links to the Janjaweed, calling them bandits.

Carroll told Question Period she's been both angered and upset by what she has witnessed.

She acknowledged she was visibly moved in an interview with CTV last week, after hearing how one woman had been raped by several men in one of the Darfur camps.

"I guess having just moved away from that conversation -- and then attempting to tell Canadians that I want to transfer what I'm seeing into their living rooms -- it was a little difficult," she said.

Also last week, Carroll became fed up with Sudanese government security forces who were watching her every move.

While visiting one camp, home to 20,000 people, she got into a scuffle with a suspected government agent as he tried to intimidate refugees. She yelled at him to go away and he yelled back at her

Carroll has announced that the Canadian International Development Agency would provide an additional $10.8 million for humanitarian aid and peacebuilding efforts in Sudan.

CIDA had recently pledged a $1-million contribution to protect and promote the human rights of Darfur civilians.

The $10.8 million will be distributed as follows:

• $6 million to the World Food Programme for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Darfur and Sudanese refugees in Chad
• $3 million to the Canadian Foodgrains Bank to provide emergency food aid, water, and sanitation services
  $1 million to the Canadian Red Cross for two mobile health units that will distribute urgently needed primary health care to IDP settlements and rape victims
• $400,000 to provide emergency reproductive health services for young people in 20 camps in Darfur
• $471,000 to the International Rescue Committee to help the generation of Sudanese youth exposed to years of conflict