Anna Chan:
A U.N. humanitarian affairs spokesman says the death toll in Darfur may be much worse than previously thought. The new figure... well over 300,000. But Sudan's ambassador to the U.N. says the figure is grossly exaggerated. Let's hear their rationale.

The conflict in Darfur is now five years old. During that time the region has seen a widespread humanitarian crisis. But exactly how many people have lost their lives? Many more than current estimates suggest according to an address to the U.N. Security Council by John Holmes, a senior U.N. humanitarian official.

[John Holmes, U.N. Under-Secretary General]:
"A study in 2006 suggested that 200,000 had lost their lives from the combined effects of the conflict. That figure must be much higher now, perhaps half as much again. Yet we continue to see the goalposts receding, to the point where peace in Darfur, seems further away today than ever."

The most recent figure of 200,000 deaths was based on a two year old study by the World Health Organization. Holme's new figures suggest as many as 300,000 have died in Darfur. He says it's not based on scientific analysis, only extrapolation of the old figure, meaning it could be higher.

On top of that, two million people have been driven from their homes. But these figures are at odds with those of the Sudanese government. It says only 10,000 have died - but it counts only combat deaths, claiming there's no famine or no disease epidemic in Darfur.

And Khartoum says the figures provided by Holmes are not helpful, correct or credible.

[Abdalmahmood Abdalhaleem, Sudanese Ambassador to the U.N.]:
"The death of even a single Sudanese is something very regrettable and tragic. But our own calculations, the number, the total number does not exceed ten thousand."

A joint force of United Nations and African Union troops is trying to bring much needed security to Darfur.

But the planned contingent of 26,000 soldiers has shrunk to 9000 and is not expected to be able to be at full operating level until 2009.