Tragedy in Sudan: Natural disaster claims 1,000 lives, including 200 children
Illustrative photo: ambulance in Sudan (Getty Images)
A deadly landslide in Sudan’s western region of Darfur on August 31 has turned out to be one of the country’s largest natural disasters in modern history due to the record number of fatalities, the AP reports.
On Friday, September 5, the well-known humanitarian organization Save the Children reported that rescue operations are still underway in Sudan’s western region of Darfur, where a massive landslide occurred on August 31.
It is now estimated that the landslide in Darfur claimed more than 1,000 lives, including around 200 children.
According to Francesco Lanino, the organization’s operations director, the landslide is one of the largest natural disasters in Sudan’s modern history.
"This is a tragedy (within - ed.) a tragedy that is the current conflict in Sudan," Lanino said.
Indeed, the disaster is compounded by Sudan’s prolonged civil war, which has been ongoing since April 2023. The conflict has killed over 40,000 people and displaced 12 million.
Rescue efforts in Darfur continue, but difficult terrain and a lack of communication make access for responders limited.
The landslide completely destroyed the village of Tarasin in the Marrah Mountains of Central Darfur. Buildings, schools, and medical facilities were buried under mud, and half of the mountain collapsed onto the village.
On September 4, Sudanese authorities recovered the bodies of 375 people who died as a result of the landslide following heavy rains. Due to the area’s remoteness and challenging terrain, the exact death toll is difficult to determine, and thousands are still missing.
Residents and rescuers fear further landslides as heavy rains continue. Many villagers have relocated to nearby settlements about 5 kilometers from the epicenter, but they still require food, water, medicine, and safe shelter.
Humanitarian organizations are delivering aid to those affected and assisting with evacuations using camels and donkeys to safer areas.
"Think about a village with all its existing schools and health facilities totally under the mud, and half of the mountain collapsed all over the village, which is fully covered, so there is nothing left of the existing structure," Lanino emphasized, describing the scale of the tragedy.
This landslide in Darfur has become one of the deadliest natural disasters in Africa in recent years, highlighting the region’s chronic vulnerability to natural hazards amid a humanitarian crisis.
The US has imposed sanctions on Sudan over chemical weapons. The restrictions will last at least a year but will not affect humanitarian aid.
In April 2025, the US also decided to cancel all visas issued to South Sudan passport holders and limit the issuance of new ones.
