In brief
In the aftermath of a devastating landslide in Sudan's Darfur region, locals are resorting to digging with their hands to recover the bodies of relatives, facing dire conditions and a lack of resources. The tragedy, exacerbated by ongoing conflict and challenging terrain, has reportedly resulted in hundreds of fatalities, demanding urgent humanitarian assistance.
Villagers in a remote area of Sudan's western Darfur region are trying to reach buried victims by hand after a devastating landslide on Sunday, aid group Save the Children reports. People are excavating by hand to rescue the bodies of their relatives since there are no tools or machinery, stated Francesco Lanino, Save the Children's deputy Sudan director for programs and operations.
The true extent of loss remains uncertain, with estimates of fatalities ranging from 2 bodies reported by the national health ministry to as many as 1,000 by an armed group controlling the area. Save the Children claims at least 373 bodies have been recovered so far.
Lanino noted that potentially 1,000 lives may have been lost, including around 200 children. Eyewitness accounts describe scenes of destruction and devastation following the landslide, triggered by heavy rainfall, which has been labeled as one of the region's worst disasters.
In the affected Tarseen area, which comprises five villages, only one survivor is reported from the worst-hit village. The remoteness of the region has complicated the verification of the disaster's true scope.
Analysis of satellite images has revealed nine structures that were swept away in the landslide. It took Save the Children workers over six hours to traverse nearly 14 miles of difficult terrain to reach the disaster area, utilizing donkeys to transport essential supplies to survivors.
The situation is further dire due to ongoing civil unrest, complicating rescue efforts. As the country grapples with a humanitarian crisis resulting from conflict between the Rapid Support Forces and the army, the death toll related to the civil war is estimated in the tens of thousands.
Amid this tragedy, over twelve million individuals have been displaced from their homes across Sudan, underscoring the urgent need for humanitarian assistance and international support.
