Sudan Landslide Tragedy: Hundreds Feared Dead in Marra Mountains
Khartoum – A massive landslide in Sudan’s Marra Mountains has left devastating loss of life, with the United Nations confirming at least 370 deaths, while local groups fear the toll could be much higher.
The disaster struck the remote village of Tarseen on Sunday, following days of heavy rainfall that destabilized the mountainside and buried much of the community.
Death Toll Could Reach 1,000
According to the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A), which controls the region, as many as 1,000 people may have perished, with only a single survivor found amid the wreckage.
Antoine Gérard, the UN’s deputy humanitarian coordinator for Sudan, said it was extremely difficult to verify casualties due to the area’s inaccessibility. “We do not have helicopters, and the rough terrain makes aid delivery very slow,” he explained, warning that transporting relief by truck could take days during the rainy season.
Humanitarian Aid Desperately Needed
The SLM/A has appealed for urgent international assistance, calling on the UN, African Union, and global aid agencies to intervene. Darfur’s army-aligned governor, Minni Minnawi, described the tragedy as “beyond what our people can bear alone” and urged rapid humanitarian response.
The African Union Commission also called on Sudan’s warring factions to suspend hostilities and prioritize relief efforts for victims.
Conflict Complicates Relief Efforts
The landslide struck an area already reeling from Sudan’s civil war, which erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The conflict has killed an estimated 150,000 people, displaced 12 million, and plunged the nation into famine.
Many residents of North Darfur had fled to the Marra Mountains seeking safety, only to be caught in this natural disaster.
Analysts fear the catastrophe may worsen Sudan’s humanitarian crisis, already described as one of the world’s most severe.