Sudan Landslide: Hundreds Feared Dead in Marra Mountains Village

Devastating Landslide in Marra Mountains

• ⛰️ A landslide in the remote Marra Mountains of western Sudan has reportedly buried an entire village, with initial estimates suggesting hundreds of people have died.
• 💔 The village of Tarseen was completely "levelled," leaving only one survivor, according to a local armed group.
• 🚨 Rescue efforts are being significantly hampered by bad weather and poor infrastructure in the mountainous region.

Conflicting Death Tolls and Access Challenges

• 📊 The Sudan Liberation Movement/Army, which controls the area, initially reported over 1,000 deaths, while the UN's deputy humanitarian coordinator stated at least 370 fatalities.
• 🌍 The UN has appealed for international assistance, but the remote and difficult-to-access nature of the Marra Mountains makes assessing the full scale of the incident challenging.
• 📝 The army-led sovereignity council has sent condolence messages, acknowledging the deaths of hundreds without providing a specific figure.

Background on the Sudan Liberation Movement and Region

• ✊ The Sudan Liberation Movement/Army is a rebel group that has controlled parts of Darur for over 20 years, with some factions now supporting the Sudanese army in the ongoing conflict.
• ⚠️ The Marra Mountains, known for their volcanic terrain and seclusion, have historically suffered from poverty and a lack of infrastructure, making access extremely difficult.
• 🏠 Recently, the area had become a refuge for hundreds, if not thousands, of people displaced by the conflict between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces, exacerbating the impact of the landslide.
• 🆘 Aid organizations have faced significant challenges accessing these areas even before the landslide, meaning residents often lacked basic necessities like food and medicine.