The United Nations Security Council says peacekeepers will stay in Sudan's troubled Darfur region another year.

The U.N. said Friday the additional time will allow for a review of how many troops are needed in the volatile region.

The United Nations-African Union peacekeeping force (UNAMID) has been deployed in Darfur since 2008, protecting civilians and attempting to maintain order.

Since the fighting between rebels and government forces began eight years ago, an estimated 300,000 people have been killed and nearly 3 million others have fled their homes.

The U.N. has urged everyone involved in the conflict in Darfur to move to toward a permanent ceasefire and peace agreement.