Heavy rains in western Sudan have caused a landslide in a mountainous area, resulting in the death of over 1,000 people. The landslide has completely destroyed the village of Tarseen in the Jebel Marra region. This area is under the control of an armed group called the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A). The group stated that only one resident of Tarseen village survived the disaster that obliterated the settlement. The group has called upon the United Nations (UN) and international organizations to provide assistance to those affected by the flooding and landslide. They said that foreign aid would be needed to recover the bodies of the deceased.
The leader of the group, Abdul Wahid Mohamed Nour, said that there is a high risk of similar dangerous incidents occurring in other villages in the area. He added that the residents of these villages are concerned about this possibility. He also emphasized the importance of relocating the residents of these villages to safer areas. This catastrophic landslide in western Sudan has occurred at a time when the country is in the midst of a civil war. The two sides in this conflict are the country’s military and an opposition militant group called the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). However, the SLM/A has not participated in the war and has not supported either side.
Currently, the most intense exchanges between the Sudanese military and the RSF are taking place in the North Darfur region. Both sides are attempting to gain control of Al-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur. The area is presently under the control of the Sudanese military. However, RSF forces have surrounded the area and are launching powerful attacks on the city. To escape escape the crossfire between the two sides, hundreds of families living in Al-Fasher have traveled to the Jebel Marra region. However, this area has run out of food, clean drinking water, as well as medicines and medical supplies needed for healthcare. As a result, hundreds of thousands of people living in this area are now in a dire situation.
