The ICRC's role as a trusted neutral and impartial intermediary has also been of key importance in carrying out protection and assistance activities in cooperation with the Sudanese Red Crescent in Darfur. The ICRC has conducted a dialogue with all parties to the conflict and is therefore able to cross lines and deploy operations throughout the region. Since March 2003, this has enabled it to deliver food, water and other material assistance to hundreds of thousands of people, and to begin to extend its operations into more remote areas.