Sudan Landslide: Over 1,000 Dead as Village Wiped Out, Only One Survivor
A devastating landslide has obliterated an entire village in Sudan’s Darfur region.
Therefore, killing an estimated 1,000 people and leaving only a single survivor in what is being described as one of the deadliest natural disasters in the country’s recent history.
The tragedy struck the remote village of Tarasin in the Marra Mountains on Sunday, following days of torrential rainfall.
The Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A), a rebel group that controls the area, issued a statement late on Monday confirming the catastrophe.
“Initial information indicates the death of all village residents, estimated to be more than one thousand individuals, with only one survivor,” the group said.
The village was reported to have been “completely levelled to the ground,” buried under a massive cascade of mud and debris.
A Tragedy Amidst a Humanitarian Crisis
The landslide comes as a new, tragic layer to Sudan’s ongoing humanitarian crisis.
The country has been embroiled in a brutal civil war for over two years between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
This conflict has left tens of thousands dead, displaced millions from their homes, and pushed parts of the country, including Darfur, to the brink of famine.
The Marra Mountains, where the landslide occurred, have become a refuge for many civilians fleeing the violence in other parts of Darfur.
The mountainous region, characterized by its rugged terrain, is largely inaccessible to international aid organizations.
Due to the ongoing fighting and a lack of infrastructure, severely complicating any rescue or recovery efforts.
Minni Minnawi, Darfur’s army-aligned governor, called the event a “humanitarian tragedy that goes beyond the borders of the region.”
He made an urgent appeal to international humanitarian organizations to intervene and provide support.
Additionally, it is stated that the scale of the disaster is too immense for local authorities to handle alone.
Appeals for International Assistance
The SLM/A, which reported the disaster, has also called on the United Nations and other international aid agencies for assistance.
The group highlighted the extreme difficulty of recovering the bodies of the victims, many of whom are believed to be buried deep under the landslide’s debris.
The appeal underscores the dire need for specialized equipment and expertise that are currently unavailable in the conflict-ridden region.
This devastating landslide is a stark reminder of the compounding crises facing Sudan.
The seasonal rains, which typically run from July to October, have a history of causing deadly floods and landslides in the country.
However, the sheer scale of the Tarasin village tragedy, combined with the active civil war, has created an unprecedented level of human suffering.
As the world grapples with the fallout from the conflict, the international community’s ability to respond to this natural disaster will be severely tested.
With the lives and dignity of the victims’ families hanging in the balance.
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