Refugee camp in Darfur

Dr. David Nabarro, head of crisis operations for the U.N. health agency, said Oct. 15 that the estimate of 70,000 dead in and around the camps only covered the period since March, when aid agencies have had some access to the Darfur region. The figure is 20,000 higher than the WHO's estimate last month.

Most of the deaths were caused by the poor conditions in temporary camps, Nabarro said, however about 15 percent -- or 10,500 -- were due to injury and violence. Refugees regularly face death or rape at the hands of the armed Arab herdsmen, known as janjaweed, who surround the makeshift settlements.

Nabarro said he was unable to provide an estimate for the number who may have been killed before March. Several estimates have put the figure at 30,000 since the refugees began fleeing their homes in February 2003 when the Darfur conflict broke out.

Sudan's government is accused of using the militias to put down the 19-month rebellion by non-Arab African groups in Darfur.

The Japan Times Weekly: Oct. 23, 2004
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