Drop in Darfur refugee numbers

UNAMID assessment says there are now 1.8 million displaced people in Darfur compared to the 2.8 million at the height of the conflict

There has been a significant decrease in the number of displaced people in Darfur, according to a recent assessment carried out by the United Nations African Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) and its partner agencies. The number of displaced people in Darfur has reduced to 1.8 million from 2.8 million at the height of the conflict. The new figures are as suggested by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

The mission led by the UNAMID and various other partner agencies had stated earlier this week that the number of displaced people in Western Jebel Marra had reached 400,000. This estimated figure is part of the 1.8 million, the team said in the latest assessment.

Most international humanitarian agencies withdrew from the Jebel Marra area in 2009 due to insecurity. The UNAMID-led assessment mission which began on May 1 was the first to establish contact with the isolated region for many months.