A devastating landslide in western Sudan has reportedly killed over 1,000 people, leaving only a single survivor, according to the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army, the rebel group that controls the area.
The tragedy struck a village in the Marra Mountains region on 31 August, following days of heavy rainfall.
“Initial information indicates the death of all village residents, estimated to be more than one thousand individuals, with only one survivor,” the SLM, led by Abdelwahid Nour, said in a statement.
The movement, which maintains control over parts of Sudan’s tallest mountain range in Darfur, appealed to the United Nations and international aid agencies for help in recovering the bodies of the victims, comprising men, women, and children.
“The village has now been completely levelled to the ground,” the statement added.
Sudan is in the midst of a bloody civil war, now entering its third year, which has fueled one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises, including famine in parts of Darfur.
Fighting has intensified in the region, particularly around El-Fasher, after the army seized control of the capital, Khartoum, in March.
Many residents, fleeing clashes between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, had sought refuge in the Marra Mountains, where access to food and medicine remains extremely limited.
While the SLM has largely avoided direct involvement in the fighting, it continues to control significant parts of the 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 called on aid organisations to act swiftly, “We appeal to international humanitarian organisations 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 affected area, remains largely inaccessible to international aid due to ongoing conflict, severely hampering relief efforts.
Tens of thousands have been killed, and millions displaced, including approximately four million from the capital alone.
In recent months, hundreds have lost their lives as paramilitary forces launch some of their most intense attacks yet on North Darfur’s capital, El-Fasher.
