Only one person survives ‘massive and devastating’ landslide that kills more than 1,000

At least 1,000 people have been killed in a landslide in a region in Sudan, which is already suffering its darkest chapter amid a famine and claims of a genocide.

Days of heavy rain triggered the avalanche of mud and debris on Sunday in the western Darfur region and ‘completely levelled’ the village of Tarasin, in the Marra mountains.

Only a single resident is believed tohave survived the disaster, the Sudan Liberation Movement/ Army (SLM) has said.

The group said in a statement: ‘Initial information indicates the death of all village residents, estimated to be more than 1,000 individuals, with only one survivor.’

The ‘massive and devastating’ landslide ‘completely destroyed’ part of the region known for citrus production, it added. 

The group appealed to the United Nations and other aid organisations for help recovering the victims still buried under dirt and debris.

Reports of the landslide comes as Sudan’s ongoing civil war between the army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) – now in its third year – has plunged the country into one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.

Many residents from North Darfur state had fled to the Marra Mountains region, after war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) forced them from their homes.

The SLM has mostly stayed out of the violence, but controls parts of the country’s tallest mountain range.

Darfur’s army-aligned governor, Minni Minnawi, described the landslide as a ‘humanitarian tragedy that goes beyond the borders of the region’.

He said: ‘We appeal to international humanitarian organizations to urgently intervene and provide support and assistance at this critical moment, for the tragedy is greater than what our people can bear alone.’

Much of Darfur – including the area where the landslide occurred – remains largely inaccessible to international aid organisations due to the war, which severely limits the delivery of urgent humanitarian assistance.

What is happening in Sudan?

Sudan was plunged into a civil war in April 2023 after a vicious struggle for power broke out between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

More than 150,000 people have died because of the fighting and more than 13 million have been displaced internally in what the International Rescue Committee described as ‘the biggest humanitarian crisis ever recorded.

After more than two years, the conflict has led to a famine and claims of a genocide in the western Darfur region.

People are facing mass violations of human rights and humanitarian law resulting in mass civilian casualties, and sexual and gender-based violence.

Rather than advancing diplomacy, outside powers are fueling the war by funneling weapons to their allies.

Both SAF and RSF leaders appear to believe that the continued fighting best serves their interests, leaving the northeast African country on a trajectory toward catastrophic humanitarian collapse. 

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