Death and Sorrow Following Fatal Landslide in Sudan

In Sudan's Jebel Marra region, a remote and geologically active area, a series of catastrophic landslides have struck during the country's peak flooding season, leaving hundreds dead and thousands displaced.

The first landslide occurred at 5 pm on Sunday, engulfing the village of Tarasin. Over the next three days, two more landslides followed, affecting nearby communities. Only 150 survivors, including 40 children, have been found so far. The latest confirmed death toll stands at 373, but the true figure is believed to be over 1,000.

The landslides occurred in an area controlled by the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army, a rebel group led by Abdelwahid al-Nur. The Jebel Marra region, sitting atop a major tectonic fault line, is prone to such disasters.

The survivors have lost their homes, food, livestock, and do not know where to go due to the impact of heavy rains. Around 5,000 livestock were also destroyed, leaving families without food or income.

Cholera is now a major threat due to flooding contaminating water sources. There were already cholera cases in the area, and there is concern for a new and huge outbreak among survivors and nearby areas.

Save the Children, an international NGO, is involved in the rescue and recovery efforts in the affected villages. Francesco Lanino, operations director at Save the Children, stated that when their team arrived, it was hard to imagine that under the mud was an entire village with hundreds of bodies.

The NGO has deployed 11 staff, including medical professionals and social workers, to the affected village. They have set up an emergency health post and psychosocial support groups for women and children. Lanino also mentioned that the survivors are in a lot of pain and tears due to the loss of many relatives and children.

The General Authority for Geological Research has warned of potential catastrophic humanitarian and environmental consequences due to continued landslides. The team faced difficult travel conditions, taking ten gruelling hours on donkeyback to reach the village.

In these challenging times, the resilience of the survivors and the efforts of organisations like Save the Children offer a glimmer of hope. However, much work remains to be done to address the immediate needs of the affected communities and prevent further tragedies.