Khartoum: A massive landslide has devastated the remote village of Tarasin in the Jebel Marra Mountains of Central Darfur, killing hundreds and possibly more than 1,000 people. The disaster, which struck on August 31 after days of relentless rain, has reduced the once-thriving farming community to rubble and triggered urgent appeals for international aid.

According to the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A), more than 1,000 residents were buried under the debris, with only one survivor reportedly found. The armed group, which controls the region, has called the tragedy “beyond comprehension” and appealed to the United Nations and humanitarian organizations for help in recovering bodies and preventing further disasters in neighboring villages.

The United Nations, however, has issued more cautious estimates, suggesting the death toll may be between 300 and 1,000. Aid agencies warn that the true scale of the disaster is still unclear due to the inaccessibility of the area and disruptions to communication lines caused by heavy rain.

The village of Tarasin, perched at high altitude in the Marrah Mountains, is extremely difficult to reach. The final stretch of nearly 45 kilometers is inaccessible to vehicles, forcing aid workers to rely on donkeys or travel on foot. Rescue and recovery efforts have been slowed further by poor weather conditions, unstable terrain, and the ongoing civil war in Sudan, which has displaced millions and left vast parts of Darfur cut off from humanitarian assistance.

Sudan’s Sovereign Council and Darfur’s governor, Minni Minnawi, expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, describing it as a humanitarian catastrophe. The United Nations has confirmed it is mobilizing relief efforts, though officials acknowledge that access remains a major barrier.

The landslide adds to Sudan’s worsening humanitarian crisis, already fueled by the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces since April 2023. The war has killed more than 150,000 people and displaced over 12 million, while famine conditions threaten millions more. Aid groups warn that the Tarasin tragedy highlights the desperate need for greater international intervention to prevent further loss of life in Darfur and other conflict-hit regions.