MORE than 180,000 people have died from hunger and illness in the strife-torn Sudanese province of Darfur in 18 months — more than 2½ times the previous official estimate, according to the United Nations.

Until now, the UN had said that 70,000 civilians have died after fleeing their homes.

However, Jan Egeland, the UN emergency relief co-ordinator, has announced that there have been 10,000 “preventable deaths” each month since fighting increased in late 2003.

The revised figure excludes people killed by the government-sponsored Arab militia, known as the Janjawid, whose tactics against farmers have forced nearly two million people from their homes. Amnesty International estimates that a further 50,000 people have been killed in attacks.

Despite three UN resolutions and international pressure, particularly from the United States, the Sudanese Government and the rebel groups continue to fight and terrorise civilians. Over the past few weeks, there have been reports of Janjawid attacks on villages and a refugee camp, apparently backed with bombardments by Sudanese military aircraft.

The Sudan Liberation Army and the Justice and Equality Movement, which are fighting for political rights and a share of resources in the province, have also been accused of breaking the ceasefire agreement signed last year.

The violence is making aid provision difficult. The World Food Programme (WFP), which is feeding 1.6 million displaced people, said yesterday that lorry hijackings had increased dramatically.

On Saturday, three WFP lorries were stolen in North Darfur. On Tuesday last week 11 were stolen on the road between El Fasher and Nyala, the capitals of North and South Darfur. Aid agencies also say that there is an emerging risk of famine in many parts of Sudan, including Darfur. Poor rains have caused crop failure and the price of millet has doubled in some areas.

The presence of African Union monitors on the ground has proved ineffectual. Fewer than two thirds of the authorised 3,320 troops have been deployed.

Mr Egeland said recently that at least 10,000 troops were needed to enforce a ceasefire.Calls for the UN Security Council to impose sanctions on Khartoum have been blocked by Russia and, in particular, China, which has huge oil interests in the country.

The Sudanese Government continues to issue veiled threats of blackmail. At a UN Commission on Human Rights meeting on Monday, the Justice Minister said that strong international action would hamper any hopes for peace in the region. “Unmeasured, uneven and unbalanced pressure and signals have exacerbated the already volatile situation in Darfur,” he said.

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