Credited from: ALJAZEERA
Rescuers in Sudan's western Darfur region have reported recovering the bodies of 370 victims from a landslide that struck the remote village of Tarasin amid heavy rains on August 31. Local authorities fear the death toll could be as high as 1,000. Ibrahim Suleiman, a civilian leader, stated, "We recovered 370 bodies and buried them. Others are still trapped under rocks," reflecting the dire situation in an area where access remains extremely difficult due to rugged terrain and flooding, according to Indiatimes and Al Jazeera.
The humanitarian crisis in Tarasin has led aid groups like Save the Children to utilize donkeys to deliver supplies, as "vehicle access to the site is almost impossible," noted Francesco Lanino, the agency's deputy director for Sudan. The first batch of humanitarian aid was reportedly delivered after a long and treacherous journey, highlighting the severe logistical challenges faced in the region. Many residents have been displaced and are in urgent need of food, water, and medical assistance, emphasizes BBC and BBC.
Local residents have been forced to excavate for buried victims using their hands in the absence of proper tools, further compounding the tragedy. "People are excavating by hand to rescue the bodies of their relatives since there are no tools or machinery," reported Save the Children, which has expressed grave concerns over the rising death toll and the heartbreaking condition of survivors, who have lost nearly everything to both the landslide and the ongoing violence in Sudan. The humanitarian disaster continues to spread across the region due to the ongoing civil war, already claiming tens of thousands of lives prior to this disaster, according to BBC and Al Jazeera.
Efforts by the UN and other humanitarian organizations are underway, but providing adequate relief remains challenging, exacerbated by the harsh climatic conditions and ongoing conflict. The UN has asserted that a coordinated response is vital to address the "catastrophic humanitarian situation," with many residents now reliant on the efforts of local and international aid workers to provide essential support, according to Al Jazeera and Indiatimes.