Over 1,000 Dead in Devastating Sudan Landslide Amid Ongoing Civil War
In a tragic development amid Sudan's ongoing civil war, a massive landslide struck the village of Tarasin in the western Darfur region, reportedly killing over 1,000 residents. The Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM), a rebel group controlling the area, stated that the landslide left only one survivor, as reported by multiple international news sources including Al Jazeera English, The Guardian, and Deutsche Welle.
The Civil War and Humanitarian Crisis
Sudan has been embroiled in civil war since April 2023, with the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) battling for control. El-Fasher, the last major city in the vast western Darfur region, has become the most violent front line in the war. Simultaneously, the country is facing a severe humanitarian crisis, characterized by malnutrition and a resurgence of cholera, as reported by Le Monde. Moreover, both the Biden and Trump administrations have described Sudan as a country experiencing genocide, yet no significant action has been taken on this matter, as highlighted by Clarin.
The Landslide Disaster
The catastrophic landslide, attributed to days of heavy rainfall, occurred on Sunday, completely leveling Tarasin Village in the Marra Mountains. The SLM stated that the disaster completely leveled the village to the ground,
an assertion echoed by reports from South China Morning Post and Fox News. However, these reports have not been independently verified due to restricted access to the conflict-hit region.
The Aftermath and Call for Help
While the SLM has appealed for UN help to recover bodies, the overall situation in Sudan continues to worsen. The RSF's siege on North Darfur's capital, El Fasher, is causing mass starvation, according to Project Zamzam, as reported by AllAfrica.com. Further compounding the crisis, a hospital strike in South Darfur killed dozens during the swearing-in of RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo 'Hemedti' as head of Sudan's RSF-aligned parallel government.
Current Status
As the civil war rages on, the humanitarian situation in Sudan remains dire. The landslide in Darfur is being considered among Sudan's deadliest natural disasters in recent history. In the face of this escalating catastrophe, Former Sudanese Foreign Minister Omer Gamareldin Ismail has called for an end to the war, reportedly scorning both the Port Sudan and Nyala governments as illegitimate.
The full scale of the disaster and the ongoing civil war's impact on the humanitarian crisis are yet to be fully understood or addressed. However, the current scenario underscores the urgent need for international attention and action to alleviate the suffering of the Sudanese people.