Villagers in a remote area of Sudan's western Darfur region are trying to reach buried victims by hand after a devastating landslide on Sunday, aid group Save the Children reports.
Francesco Lanino, Save the Children's deputy Sudan director, stated, People are excavating by hand to rescue the bodies of their relatives since there are no tools or machinery available. The reported death toll varies dramatically — it ranges from claims of up to 1,000 fatalities from local armed groups to just two deaths reported by the national health ministry.
According to Save the Children, at least 373 bodies have been recovered, according to the head of the Civil Authority. Mr. Lanino estimated that “1,000 lives may have been lost, including an estimated 200 children.”
Described scenes of destruction and devastation indicate this landslide — triggered by heavy rainfall — could be one of the worst disasters in the region's history. The Tarseen area, made up of five villages, reported just one known survivor in the hardest-hit village.
Due to the remoteness of the impacted area, verifying the full extent of the landslide's impact has been challenging. However, analysis of satellite imagery has shown nine structures that were completely washed away.
Save the Children aid workers faced a grueling six-hour journey through 14 miles (22km) of difficult terrain to deliver humanitarian supplies to survivors using donkeys. Efforts to provide assistance are further hindered by ongoing civil conflict, which is compounded by the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Sudan — with ongoing fighting between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese army resulting in an estimated death toll of up to 150,000 since the conflict began in 2023.
Currently, about twelve million people have been forced to flee their homes, facing both the consequences of conflict and natural disasters.
