Over 1,000 people lost their lives in a devastating landslide in western Sudan on Sunday, a figure reported by the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM), the rebel group governing the afflicted area. The landslide, following heavy rainfall on August 31, razed a village situated in the Marra Mountains region of western Sudan, leaving behind one lone survivor, as per the SLM’s statement.
Abdelwahid Nour’s faction within the SLM stated that preliminary data suggests the death of more than 1,000 inhabitants, including men, women, and children, with just a single person surviving the calamity. The movement, which dominates the region situated in the Darfur area, has called upon the UN and international aid organizations to assist in the retrieval of the victims’ remains, as the region remains largely inaccessible to these organizations due to ongoing fighting.
The disaster has further exacerbated Sudan’s already dire humanitarian crisis, which has been compounded by the nation’s brutal civil war now in its third year. Starvation has been declared in parts of Darfur, despite the army seizing control of the capital, Khartoum, in March. The violence has intensified, particularly in El Fasher, as the Sudanese army clashes with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. Fleeing the conflict, many residents sought refuge in the Marra Mountains, where essentials like food and medicine are scarce.
Governor Minni Minnawi of Darfur, who aligns with the army, has labeled the landslide as a humanitarian catastrophe that surpasses the region’s boundaries. He urgently appealed to humanitarian organizations to step in and provide assistance.
In recent months, hundreds have been reported killed, with civilians in El Fasher claiming the paramilitaries are launching their most aggressive assault on the North Darfur state capital to date.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/sep/02/sudan-landslide-kills-at-least-1000-people-rebel-group-says
