Cairo, Sep 3 (AP) A catastrophic landslide in Sudan's Darfur region claimed an estimated 1,000 lives amid the backdrop of a devastating civil war that has pushed parts of the northeastern African nation into famine.
Sudan, home to over 50 million people, has endured a long history of conflicts, including the secession of South Sudan in 2011. The nation is also plagued by seasonal flooding, which claims hundreds of lives annually. In recent years, climate change has exacerbated the rainfall, leading to more deadly and destructive flooding.
The Landslide Following days of torrential rain, a landslide on Sunday obliterated the village of Tarasin in the Marrah Mountains, located over 900 kilometres west of the capital, Khartoum. At least 1,000 people were killed, with only one resident reportedly surviving, according to the Sudan Liberation Movement-Army, a rebel group controlling the area. The group's spokesperson, Mohamed Abdel-Rahman al-Nair, stated that search efforts are ongoing, with around 100 bodies recovered as of Tuesday evening. The UN humanitarian coordinator in Sudan, Luca Renda, mentioned that between 300 to 1,000 lives were possibly lost, based on local sources.
The Marrah Mountains, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site, are notoriously difficult to access and are located in a volcanic area with a summit reaching 3,000 meters. The landslide occurred during the peak of Sudan's flooding season, which spans from July to October. Recently, widespread damage has been reported in several areas of Sudan, including the village of Sofia in South Darfur province, where 100 houses were destroyed on Sunday, as per the International Organisation for Migration.
The Civil War Sudan descended into turmoil when escalating tensions between the military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) erupted into street battles in April 2023 in Khartoum and other regions of the country. The conflict has morphed into a regional proxy war, with each faction receiving backing from foreign governments.
Darfur, already battered by decades of conflict and the scene of the 21st century's first genocide, has been severely impacted by the ongoing conflict. The military's recapture of Khartoum and its adjacent city, Omdurman, marked a significant blow to the paramilitary forces, leading to shifting frontline dynamics. Primary conflict zones include Darfur and the south-central Kordofan region.
The war has been characterized by severe atrocities, including mass killings and rapes, which the International Criminal Court is investigating as potential war crimes and crimes against humanity, particularly in Darfur. The RSF has been primarily blamed for these atrocities, with the former Biden administration accusing the militia of genocide. The military has also faced accusations of international law violations. The RSF has its origins in the infamous Janjaweed militias, accused of genocide in the 2000s Darfur conflict.
Famine and Disease The conflict has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced 14 million people, with over 4 million having fled to neighboring countries facing their own conflicts or economic challenges. This has precipitated the world's largest humanitarian crisis. Sudan is among four regions globally where famine has been detected in the last 15 years, alongside South Sudan, Somalia, and the Gaza Strip.
The famine-affected areas are primarily in Darfur and Kordofan, with potential expansion to other regions, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC). Numerous areas, including the Marrah Mountains and other parts of Darfur and Kordofan, remain inaccessible due to clashes, blockades, and looting. At least 25 million people, half of the country's population, are grappling with acute hunger, including over 3.6 million children facing severe malnourishment, according to the UN.
Moreover, deadly disease outbreaks, such as cholera, malaria, and dengue, have surfaced over the past two years. An ongoing cholera outbreak in Darfur has resulted in about 400 deaths and sickened over 9,000 individuals, according to a local aid group. A March outbreak in White Nile province claimed around 100 lives and sickened over 2,700 others, noted the Health Ministry.
(Only the headline of this report may have been reworked by Editorji; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)