Landslide-induced disease threats in Darfur

In the Darfur region of Sudan's Marrah Mountains, a desperate race against time ensued following a devastating landslide on Sunday, which left an entire village engulfed in mud, potentially trapping as many as 1,000 people and 5,000 animals. Warnings of contaminated water and disease were...

, and Administrator

2025 September 14 . 12:54 PM

2 min read

Landslide-induced health hazards in Darfur

Landslide-induced disease threats in Darfur

In the Darfur region of Sudan, a tragic event unfolded on Sunday afternoon when half the mountain slid away in the village of Tarsin, burying approximately 1,000 people and about 5,000 animals under the mud.

The UN Emergency Relief Coordinator visited the disaster area and coordinated the provision of emergency aid, including food, medical assistance, and shelter for the affected population. So far, 300 bodies have been recovered, but the number of people still buried under the mud remains uncertain.

The survivors are traumatized and don't know where to go. An 11-member team from "Save the Children" was the first to arrive in the disaster area on Thursday evening, and they are now trying to care for the approximately 150 survivors, including 40 children.

However, the challenges of bringing more supplies into the disaster area are significant. Local sources put the death toll between 300 and 1,000 people, but the exact number is still unknown. The region where the landslide occurred is experiencing a cholera outbreak, increasing the risk of infection from contaminated water.

Depending on their ethnic group, it is not safe for survivors everywhere in Darfur. The internally displaced among the survivors are afraid of being accommodated in a refugee camp due to repeated attacks by the paramilitary RSF militia, which controls large parts of the region. Some survivors have found shelter in nearby villages, while others are currently homeless.

In Golo, the nearest large city, there are no relief supplies at the local market. The SLM/A militia, which controls the region, had spoken of 1,000 dead, but a UN spokesman was more cautious, stating that local sources put the death toll between 300 and 1,000 people.

The people in the village have lost everything, and their future remains uncertain. It is unclear where the survivors can be accommodated, but efforts are being made to provide them with the necessary aid and support during this difficult time.