A catastrophic landslide has devastated the remote village of Tarasin in Sudan's North Darfur State, within the Jebel Marra mountain range, claiming an estimated 1,000 lives and completely destroying the settlement. The disaster struck after one of the worst downpours of Sudan's rainy season, which peaks in August, compounding the suffering of communities already struggling with the country's ongoing war and a severe humanitarian crisis.

Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, the Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), expressed profound condolences to the bereaved families and affected communities in Sudan. He highlighted that this tragedy adds to what humanitarian agencies already describe as one of the world's worst crises, with millions displaced, worsening food shortages, and the collapse of livelihoods across Sudan.

Local sources and rescuers have been working tirelessly, reporting the recovery and burial of 370 bodies, with many more still trapped under rocks and carried away by floodwaters. The full scale of the disaster remains unknown due to the isolated nature of the mountain region. The operation has been carried out entirely by local residents, members of theSudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A), which controls the area around Jebel Marra, and the local Emergency Response Room, a volunteer group coordinating aid.

Photo Credit: CBC

The SLM/A, which has remained largely neutral in the conflict between Sudan's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF),released footage showing residents and rescuers at a makeshift burial site and digging through mud and rubble with shovels and bare hands. Aid agencies, including the Sudanese American Medical Association, have been unable to reach Tarasin due to the rugged terrain and ongoing rainfall, further isolating the affected community.

This natural calamity unfolds against the backdrop of Sudan's brutal war, which erupted in April 2023, killing tens of thousands and displacing millions. Famine has spread in parts of Darfur and southern Sudan, while cholera outbreaks have affected large areas of the country, with Darfur being among the hardest hit. The Marra Mountains have historically served as a refuge for families fleeing violence in Darfur, making the current devastation even more poignant.

Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu underscored that the landslide emphasizes the urgent need for peace, resilience, and timely humanitarian assistance for those most in need. He stressed the critical importance of regional and international cooperation to help Sudan manage its overlapping crises, urging collaborative efforts to facilitate immediate aid and support peace, unity, and recovery in the nation.