Sudanese minister questions UN Darfur death estimates

KHARTOUM, Sudan, Sep 14, 2004 (AP) — A Sudanese official said Tuesday that disturbingly high U.N. estimates of death among Darfur’s displaced were mistaken and claimed the health situation was “normal” in the region gripped by what the United Nations has called the world’s worst humanitarian disaster.

The comments from Minister of Humanitarian Affairs Ibrahim Hamid, speaking to reporters after he met with the visiting U.S. aid chief Andrew Natsios, echoed other claims from Sudanese officials that the world is exaggerating Darfur’s troubles. Ibrahim’s government is under increasing international pressure to do more to address the crisis.

The government rejects accusations it backs militias drawn from Arab herders in a scorched earth campaign to forcibly remove African farmers from Darfur following an uprising against the government by two rebel groups that began in February 2003. The Sudanese government says the rebel groups are responsible for violence that has driven thousands from their homes.

The U.N. World Health Organization released the results of a survey Monday showing 6,000-10,000 of the people who have fled their homes are dying from disease and violence every month. Dr. David Nabarro, Geneva-based head of crisis operations for the World Health Organization, said the survey results confirm an earlier estimate of a total death figure of 50,000 in all of Darfur since the start of the conflict.

“These figures are high,” Nabarro said. “These figures are higher than those we had from East Timor, higher than the figures we had from Iraq in 1991, comparable to what we had in Rwanda in the bad times.”

Hamid, the Sudanese minister, said Tuesday: “I don’t think this assessment is correct.”

Hamid didn’t offer his own figures on monthly deaths or a total toll, but claimed: “The death rate is decreasing …. We have standards by which we measure the health situation … and it is normal.”

He said his government was working hard in the areas of humanitarian assistance, security and human rights to improve the situation in Darfur, and also was committed to peace talks with the rebels hosted by Nigeria.

The United States has proposed a U.N. resolution threatening penalties against Sudan ‘s fledgling oil industry to pressure the government to stop the violence and improve the humanitarian situation in Darfur. The U.N. Security Council was expected to pass a resolution on Darfur later this week, but the measure may not be as tough as Washington wants.

Monday, European Union foreign ministers urged Sudan to implement a cease-fire in Darfur or face U.N. sanctions, including a possible oil embargo. They also called for the United Nations to “immediately investigate” whether atrocities in Darfur constitute genocide.

Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, testifying before Congress, labeled the chaos in Darfur genocide against the region’s ethnic Africans. Many believe such a designation would require strong international action.