Massive Landslide in Sudan’s Jebel Marra Region Destroys Village, Kills Up to 1,000 Amid Ongoing Civil War and Humanitarian Crisis

In Western Sudan, a catastrophic landslide has wiped out the village of Tarseen in Darfur, with an estimated death toll reaching up to 1,000 individuals. The incident occurred on Sunday in the mountainous Jebel Marra region, currently under control of the Sudan Liberation Movement-Army (SLM-A).

The SLM-A reported that excessive rainfall caused the village’s complete annihilation, leaving behind only one survivor. This region has experienced a significant increase in population over the past few months due to displaced individuals fleeing a protracted siege on Darfur’s historical capital, El Fasher, and from the Zamzam refugee camp, where famine was declared last year.

The SLM-A has maintained neutrality throughout the conflict, offering a rare sanctuary for refugees. However, most of Darfur remains under control of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied Arab militias, who have faced accusations of committing genocide against African ethnic groups by the U.N., the U.S., and others.

In April, Zamzam, Sudan’s largest refugee camp with over half a million residents, was overrun by the RSF, resulting in numerous casualties, including aid workers from Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) and Relief International. Many displaced civilians subsequently fled to remote areas such as Jebel Marra, where access for humanitarian organizations is limited and delivering aid during the rainy season is particularly challenging.

Aid workers have expressed concern over daily child deaths due to hunger in the region, with both Sudan’s army and the RSF accused of obstructing humanitarian assistance. U.N. agencies and other aid groups have also faced attacks and pressure from both parties involved in the conflict.

Sudan’s military controls the majority of the country, including the capital, Khartoum. The RSF holds sway over much of Darfur, except for El Fasher, and on Saturday its leader, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, was inaugurated as head of a parallel government, which has been denounced by the U.S. and other nations.

The ongoing conflict in Sudan has precipitated the world’s largest humanitarian crisis and the worst famine seen in decades. While precise casualty figures are difficult to verify, the U.S. estimated last September that as many as 150,000 people may have perished since the fighting commenced over two years ago.