BRIEF: Darfur Death Toll is Likely Much Higher

DARFUR, Sudan - In 2006 the United Nations estimated that 200,000 people had died in Darfur.  Now the same man who calculated the figure two years ago says that number is too low.  The calculation was done by the former United Nations humanitarian chief, and current special adviser to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon,  Jan Egeland.  He has suggested to the Associated Press that thousands and thousands more have been killed due to fighting since 2006.  Egeland has asked for the discontinued use of the 200,000 figure because it is outdated and wrong.  Egeland and human rights groups believe the figure is much closer to 400,000.  While aid work has helped more people since the 2005 survey the total number of affected people has quadrupled to four million.

Egeland suggests that a broad mortality survey would be able to more accurately calculate the death toll of the five year conflict.  Surveyors, however, would need better access to areas previoiusly unreached.  The Sudanese government has not allowed many aid workers to reach certain areas in Darfur and continuing violence between ethnic African rebels adn janjaweed militias have prevented surveyors from risking the danger.  Currently there are no plans for a new survey.  The United Nations has instead decided its efforts are better directed towards the four million people continuing to suffer in Darfur.  Co-Chairman of Enough Project, John Prendergast, works to end genocide and impunity.  Prendergast argues to Yahoo! News that "mortality studies can be done with a few epidemiologists and aren't that costly or time consuming."

The Sudanese government disputes Egeland's estimate as too high and argues the number is lower than 10,000.  Aid workers say the Sudanese government's calculation does not represent all deaths resulting from the conflict.  Deaths have occurred not only by gun fire but by hunger and disease that has increased during the violence.  Richard Garfield, who works with the WHO, says the job now should be to help those who can be helped and provide security to reach those aid workers can't reach and situations are unknown.

For more information please see:

Yahoo! News - Is Death Estimate for Darfur Too Low? - 28 March 2008

Calgary Sun - Darfur Death Toll of 200,000 Disputed - 29 March 2008