Sudan landslide kills over 1,000 in war-hit Marra mountains

A massive landslide in Sudan’s Marra Mountains has reportedly killed more than 1,000 people, according to statements attributed to the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A).

As per the multiple reports, the disaster was triggered by several days of heavy rainfall on Sunday, which devastated the village of Tarasin in western Sudan’s Darfur region. The rebel group claimed that the landslide destroyed most of the settlement, leaving only one survivor.

The SLM/A has appealed to the United Nations and international humanitarian organisations for urgent assistance, warning that survivors are in desperate need of food, shelter, and medical aid.

The affected area reportedly lies in North Darfur, where many civilians had already fled in search of safety from the ongoing conflict between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The civil war, which erupted in April 2023, has driven millions from their homes, caused severe famine, and led to accusations of genocide in Darfur.

While casualty figures from the conflict vary widely, US officials last year estimated that up to 150,000 people had been killed since fighting began. Around 12 million Sudanese are thought to have been displaced.

The SLM/A, which maintains control over parts of the Marra Mountains, has aligned itself with the Sudanese army against the RSF. Many Darfuris accuse the RSF and allied militias of carrying out an ethnic campaign aimed at consolidating Arab dominance in the region.