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, Francesco Lanino, Save the Children's deputy Sudan director for programmes and operations, said.
It is unclear how many people died. Estimates range as high as 1,000 from an armed group in control of the area, to only two fatalities reported by the national health ministry. However, Save the Children asserts that at least 373 bodies have been recovered according to the head of the Civil Authority.
According to Lanino, 1,000 lives may have been lost, including an estimated 200 children. Staff from Save the Children described the event as one of the most tragic and large-scale disasters in the region's history. In the hardest-hit Tarseen area, comprised of five villages, there is only one known survivor.
Verifying the impact of the landslide has been challenging due to the area’s remoteness. However, satellite imagery analysis indicates that nine buildings and structures were completely destroyed.
Save the Children aid workers faced significant challenges, taking over six hours to traverse nearly 14 miles (22 kilometers) of difficult terrain to reach the impacted area, delivering critical humanitarian supplies to survivors.
The ongoing civil war in Sudan complicates rescue efforts significantly. Apart from the landslide, Sudan is currently grappling with a humanitarian crisis due to violent clashes between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the national army, which have resulted in up to 150,000 suspected deaths since 2023, and millions displaced from their homes.
