Discovered: Approximately 100 bodies in Sudan's Darfur region after a devastating landslide, as Pope calls for assistance while advocating for aid.

Sudan Landslide Tragedy: Over 300 Lives Fearfully Lost in Remote Marrah Mountains

A devastating landslide in the remote village of Tarasin, located in the Marrah Mountains of Sudan, has left an estimated 300-1,000 people missing and feared dead, according to various reports. The UN is mobilizing efforts to support the affected area, which is more than 900 kilometers (560 miles) west of Khartoum.

The tragedy occurred on Sunday, and search teams have recovered approximately 100 bodies from the village so far. The exact details of the disaster are still unconfirmed, but it is suspected that the village has been wiped out by the landslide.

The Marrah Mountains, a world heritage site, is known for its lower temperature and higher rainfall than its surroundings. Unfortunately, this geographical feature may have contributed to the landslide, which occurred amidst heavy rains that have made deployment of aid difficult. Arjimand Hussain, Regional Response Manager with Plan International, plans to send teams to Tarasin in the coming days, but the challenging weather conditions pose significant obstacles.

The landslide in Tarasin is the latest in a series of disasters in Sudan amidst its devastating civil war. The war, which began in April 2023, has resulted in the displacement of over 14 million people, with parts of the country slipping into famine. Sudan has also been hit by disease outbreaks, including cholera, which killed hundreds of people this year.

The Sudan Liberation Movement-Army (SLM-A) is involved in the search and recovery efforts, with their spokesman, Abul Gasim Ismail, confirming the losses from the landslide in Tarasin on Wednesday. Mohamed Abdel-Rahman Al-Nair, another spokesman for the SLM-A, reported the recovery operation took place on Tuesday.

The war in Sudan has been marked by atrocities, including mass killings and rape, which the International Criminal Court is investigating as war crimes and crimes against humanity. Pope Leo XIV spoke of the tragedy during his weekly address, describing it as leaving "pain and despair." He called for a coordinated response to stop the humanitarian catastrophe and initiate a dialogue to end the conflict in Sudan.

As the search efforts continue, the full scale of the tragedy remains uncertain. The United Nations' Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has yet to confirm the death toll. The hope is that more survivors will be found, but the remote location and challenging weather conditions make this a daunting task. The international community is urged to support the relief efforts and help bring an end to the ongoing conflict in Sudan.