A landslide has killed at least 370 people in the remote Marra Mountains in western Sudan, a UN official has told the BBC. Antoine Gérard, the UN's deputy humanitarian co-ordinator for Sudan, noted that it was difficult to assess the scale of the incident or the exact death toll due to the area's challenging accessibility. The armed group Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A), which controls the region, stated that as many as 1,000 people might have died.
The landslide, prompted by days of heavy rain, occurred on Sunday, annihilating much of the village of Tarseen and leaving only one survivor. They have appealed for humanitarian assistance from the UN and other entities, emphasizing the urgent need for aid amidst the ongoing crisis.
Delivery of aid is expected to be hard as the region is only reachable by vehicle on challenging roads, with Mr. Gérard mentioning that transporting supplies could take hours or even days during the rainy season.
Many displaced residents from North Darfur had sought refuge in the Marra Mountains following conflicts with the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The head of the African Union has called on warring factions to collaborate in facilitating aid deliveries to those in need. The civil war which erupted in April 2023 exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in Sudan, pushing millions into desperation.
The landslide, prompted by days of heavy rain, occurred on Sunday, annihilating much of the village of Tarseen and leaving only one survivor. They have appealed for humanitarian assistance from the UN and other entities, emphasizing the urgent need for aid amidst the ongoing crisis.
Delivery of aid is expected to be hard as the region is only reachable by vehicle on challenging roads, with Mr. Gérard mentioning that transporting supplies could take hours or even days during the rainy season.
Many displaced residents from North Darfur had sought refuge in the Marra Mountains following conflicts with the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The head of the African Union has called on warring factions to collaborate in facilitating aid deliveries to those in need. The civil war which erupted in April 2023 exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in Sudan, pushing millions into desperation.
