Sudan: Over 1,000 Feared Dead as Landslide Erases Darfur Village, Urgent Aid Needed
Sudan: Over 1,000 Feared Dead as Landslide Erases Darfur Village, Urgent Aid Needed
A catastrophic landslide in Sudan’s western Darfur region has reportedly wiped out an entire village, killing an estimated 1,000 people in one of the deadliest natural disasters in the country’s recent history. The Sudan Liberation Movement-Army (SLM-A), which controls the affected area, confirmed the tragedy late Monday, stating the village of Tarasin in Central Darfur’s Marrah Mountains was “completely leveled to the ground.”
The disaster struck on Sunday after days of intense heavy rainfall. Initial reports from the rebel group indicate that only one resident survived, with the entire population of over 1,000 believed to have perished. SLM-A leader Abdel-Wahid Nour issued an urgent appeal on Tuesday for the United Nations and international aid organizations to provide assistance in recovering bodies and addressing the immense scale of the devastation.
The ruling Sovereign Council in Khartoum acknowledged the “death of hundreds of innocent residents” and stated that “all possible capabilities” have been mobilized to support the area. Footage shared by local outlets depicted a flattened landscape where the village once stood, with groups of people searching for victims.
This unprecedented tragedy unfolds amidst a devastating civil war that has largely cut off vast parts of Darfur, including the Marrah Mountains, from international humanitarian assistance. Aid groups like Doctors Without Borders have previously described these regions as a “black hole” in Sudan’s humanitarian response, with communities deprived of adequate support for over two years. The ongoing conflict, which erupted in April 2023, has already killed over 40,000 people and displaced more than 14 million, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the country.
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