Staff Correspondent
Sudan, already reeling from civil war and humanitarian crises, has been struck again by a natural disaster. In the Marra Mountains region of western Sudan, a massive landslide has almost completely buried an entire village. The rebel group Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) has claimed that at least 1,000 people lost their lives, with the majority being women and children.
According to SLM, only one person survived the landslide, while the rest were buried under the debris. The catastrophic landslide occurred on August 31, following several days of continuous heavy rainfall.
Most of the victims were displaced women and children who had fled conflict zones. Many were already malnourished and in weak health, making this tragedy even more devastating.
Rescue operations have not yet begun. Due to a lack of equipment and manpower, SLM has requested urgent assistance from the United Nations and international aid organizations.
For context, Sudan has been embroiled in a violent civil war for nearly two years between government forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Millions have been displaced and thousands killed. The UN reports that nearly half of the country’s population faces severe food shortages, and now this deadly landslide in the Marra Mountains has added to the humanitarian crisis.