Sudan Landslide Claims 1,000 Lives in Marra Mountains
In a devastating event, a landslide in the remote Marra Mountains in western Sudan has resulted in the loss of at least 1,000 lives, as reported by the rebel group The Sudan Liberation Movement.
The tragedy unfolded after days of relentless rain triggered the landslide on Sunday, leaving only one survivor and causing extensive destruction in the village of Tarasin, as described by the movement led by Abdelwahid Mohamed Nour.
The village has been completely wiped out, with the group emphasizing the urgent need for assistance from the United Nations and international aid agencies to retrieve the bodies of the victims, which include men, women, and children.
Residents, trying to escape the brutal conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in North Darfur state, sought refuge in the Marra Mountains where vital resources like food and medication are scarce.
Describing the landslide as a “humanitarian tragedy,” Darfur’s army-aligned governor, Minni Minnawi, acknowledged the severity of the situation.
The ongoing civil war, which has ravaged the country for two years, has pushed over half of the population to the brink of starvation and displaced millions, with the capital of North Darfur state, Al-Fashir, also coming under attack.
Many displaced individuals from North Darfur state had sought safety in the Marra Mountains region following the violent clashes between the Sudanese army and the RSF that forced them from their homes.
The civil war, erupting in April 2023 between the Sudanese army and the RSF, has exacerbated the country’s already dire food crisis and has sparked accusations of genocide in the western Darfur region.
While estimates of the death toll from the conflict vary, a US official estimated last year that up to 150,000 individuals had lost their lives since the hostilities commenced in 2023, with approximately 12 million people displaced from their homes. – Agencies
