On Sunday, August 31, a devastating landslide occurred in Sudan’s Central Darfur, claiming at least 1,000 lives, according to a rebel group that controls the territory.
The Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM-A) stated that the horrific event was precipitated by several days of torrential rainfall in late August, and that it has “completely leveled the village to the ground.”
“Initial information suggests the deaths of all village residents, an estimated more than one thousand people. Only one person survived,” the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army declared in a statement.
These figures are currently unverifiable independently owing to restricted access to the conflict-affected region; however, if substantiated, this incident would be among Sudan’s deadliest in recent history.
Minni Minnawi, Darfur’s governor, characterized the landslide as a “humanitarian tragedy.”
The group has appealed to the U.N. for assistance, specifically for aid in recovering bodies and responding to the disaster.
Previous reports from the BBC indicated that many residents from North Darfur state were in the area after the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces compelled them to leave their homes.
This is a developing report.