The president of the International Crisis Group, Gareth Evans, says Australia should be ready to help solve the crisis in Sudan's Darfur region.
Mediators from the African Union have given the Sudan government and two rebel groups until tomorrow to agree on a proposed peace plan.
Tens of thousands of people have died in fighting since the rebels took up arms three years ago.
But Mr Evans, the former Labor foreign minister, says the West has a role in restoring order whether or not there is a peace agreement.
He says there should be an international force to help displaced people return safely to their villages which would be a mammoth task.