Sudan landslide kills hundreds, including 200 children

A deadly landslide in Sudan’s western Darfur region over the weekend has killed as many as 1,000 people, including around 200 children, aid groups and local authorities said Friday, with rescue operations ongoing.

The disaster struck the village of Tarasin in the Marrah Mountains on Aug. 31 after days of heavy rainfall. Save the Children reported that 150 survivors, including 40 children, are receiving medical care. Francesco Lanino, the organization’s Sudan operations director, described the event as “a tragedy within the tragedy” of the country’s ongoing civil conflict.

Sudan has been facing one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises since civil war erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, leaving over 40,000 dead and displacing up to 12 million people.

Authorities have recovered 375 bodies, but thousands remain missing as survivors report multiple waves of mudslides hitting Tarasin and nearby villages. Many homes, schools, and health facilities were destroyed, and residents fear additional landslides due to continued heavy rain.

Aid groups are delivering relief and helping relocate survivors to safer areas, often relying on camels and donkeys because damaged roads and mountainous terrain limit access.

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