A devastating landslide has struck the remote Marra Mountains in western Sudan, killing at least 370 people and leaving an untold number buried beneath rubble and mud. The tragedy, described by officials as one of the deadliest natural disasters to hit the war-torn country in years, has sent shockwaves across the region.
United Nations Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan, Antoine Gérard, confirmed the toll on Tuesday but warned that the true scale of the disaster remains uncertain.
> “It is hard to assess the scale of the incident or the exact death toll as the area is very hard to reach,” Gérard said, noting that days of torrential rain had triggered the deadly slide.
The Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A), which controls the disaster zone, painted an even darker picture. In a chilling statement, the group claimed the landslide all but “levelled” the village of Tarseen, leaving only one known survivor, and estimated fatalities could soar as high as 1,000.
With roads washed away and aid convoys slowed by treacherous terrain, humanitarian access remains a daunting challenge. Gérard underscored the logistical nightmare:
> “We do not have helicopters, everything goes in vehicles on very bumpy roads. It takes time and it is the rainy season – sometimes we have to wait hours, maybe a day or two to cross a valley… bringing in trucks with commodities will be a challenge.”
Darfur’s governor, Minni Minnawi, aligned with the Sudanese army, described the disaster as a “humanitarian tragedy beyond what our people can bear alone.” He issued an urgent plea to international relief organisations to intervene swiftly.
The African Union also weighed in, with Commission head Mahmoud Ali Youssouf urging Sudan’s warring factions to suspend hostilities and allow aid to flow unimpeded.
> “This is a time to silence the guns and unite in facilitating the swift and effective delivery of emergency humanitarian assistance to those in need,” Youssouf declared.
The landslide adds yet another layer of misery to Sudan’s ongoing civil war, which erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The conflict has killed as many as 150,000 people, displaced over 12 million, and driven millions to the brink of famine.
The Marra Mountains, a rugged refuge for thousands fleeing violence, are now the scene of fresh devastation, forcing residents to confront both man-made and natural calamities.
As survivors dig through the mud with their bare hands and families mourn the loss of entire households, the world watches whether aid will break through Sudan’s fractured political and physical terrain.
PIONEER NEWS 