AFRICA/SUDAN - Every month as many as 10,000 people among the 1.2 million displaced persons in Darfur die, compared to about 1,500 average monthly deaths in poor regions of Africa

Rome (Fides Service) - According to a recent survey by the World Health Organisation with regard to the humanitarian crisis in the eastern Sudanese region of Darfur, the mortality rate among 1.2 million persons displaced because of violence is extremely high: between 6 to 10 thousand people die every month despite international aid. Diarrhoea is the main cause of death particularly among children, followed by fever, pneumonia, violence and injuries. The “normal” mortality rate in poor regions of Africa is about 1,500 a month. However, the results of the survey made from mid June and mid August among about 9,000 people are not complete because WHO operators were unable to go to certain areas because of a lack of security. (AP) (14/9/2004 Agenzia Fides; Righe:15; Parole:149)