Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV has extended heartfelt condolences to the people of Sudan after an entire village in Darfur’s Marrah Mountains was wiped out by a devastating landslide triggered by torrential rains. In a telegram sent to Bishop Yunan Tombe Trille Kuku Andali of the El Obeid Diocese signed on his behalf by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin the Pope assured the faithful of his “spiritual closeness.”
He prayed for those who perished, for the many still missing, and for the grieving families left behind. Entrusting the victims to God’s mercy, the Pope asked for “divine blessings of consolation and strength” for the Sudanese nation.
The Disaster: A Village Erased
On August 31, after days of heavy rainfall, the village of Tarasin in Darfur’s rugged Marrah Mountains was completely destroyed by a massive landslide. The Sudan Liberation Movement-Army (SLM-A), which controls the region, reported that more than 1,000 residents were buried under the rubble. According to their statement, only one survivor has been found.
“Initial information indicates the death of all village residents, estimated to be more than one thousand people. Only one person survived,” the SLM-A declared, calling the event a near-total erasure of Tarasin from the map.
Appeals for Help: Local and International Response
The SLM-A has urgently appealed to international aid organizations and the United Nations to assist in recovering bodies and delivering humanitarian relief. Sudan’s ruling Sovereign Council in Khartoum also issued a statement mourning the “innocent residents” of Tarasin and pledged to mobilize rescue forces. Yet, reaching the remote mountainous terrain remains a daunting challenge.
With local resources stretched thin and ongoing conflict restricting access, aid delivery has been severely hampered, deepening the desperation of survivors and nearby communities.
Conflict and Humanitarian Strain
This natural disaster strikes amid Sudan’s two-year civil war between the military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The conflict has already killed over 40,000 people and displaced an estimated 14 million, leaving the nation on the brink of famine and collapse.
The Marrah Mountains, a volcanic chain stretching for 160 kilometers southwest of el-Fasher, have served as a refuge for many fleeing the violence. Yet, humanitarian organizations, including Doctors Without Borders, warn that much of Darfur remains a “black hole” where aid cannot reach. For the people of Tarasin, isolation turned fatal as help failed to arrive in time.
A Symbol of Sudan’s Tragedy
The destruction of Tarasin stands as a tragic symbol of Sudan’s compounded suffering: a natural disaster layered on top of war, famine, and displacement. Pope Leo XIV’s call for prayer highlights not only the scale of the loss but also the urgent need for international solidarity.
As the world reflects on this calamity, the memory of a village lost beneath the soil of Darfur becomes a stark reminder of human fragility and the enduring hope for compassion in the face of devastation.