At least 1,000 people have been killed in a landslide in the remote Marra Mountains of western Sudan, according to the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A).
The armed group, in a statement, relayed that the disaster, which struck on Sunday after days of torrential rainfall, “levelled” much of Tarasin village, leaving only one survivor.
Many of the victims reportedly fled to the Marra Mountains from North Darfur state, after fighting between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) forced them from their homes.
Minni Minnawi, the governor of Dafur, who is aligned with the army, described the incident as a “humanitarian tragedy”.
The group has appealed to the United Nations, regional bodies, and international organisations to urgently provide humanitarian support.
In April 2023, civil war erupted in Sudan following a power struggle between the army and the RSF, plunging the country into famine and widespread violence.
The conflict has been marked by mass displacement and allegations of genocide in Darfur.
Darfuris have reportedly accused the RSF and allied militias of attempting to transform the ethnically diverse region into an Arab-ruled enclave.
Death toll estimates from the war vary widely. Last year, a US official suggested that as many as 150,000 people may have been killed since hostilities began, while nearly 12 million have been forced to flee their homes.
The UN and rights groups have also said the war has been marked by gross atrocities including ethnically motivated killings and rape.
The SLM/A faction that controls the Marra Mountains has pledged support for the army in its fight against the RSF.
