AL FASHER, Sudan — A devastating landslide triggered by heavy rainfall has killed over 1,000 people in a village in the Marra mountain region of western Sudan. The victims, already suffering from years of civil war and widespread famine, were internally displaced persons (IDPs) who had fled the conflict in North Darfur.

The Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM), a rebel group that controls the area, reported the tragedy, stating that the village was completely buried. A spokesperson for the SLM confirmed that only one survivor has been found so far. The group has issued an urgent appeal to the United Nations and other international aid organizations to help recover the bodies from the site, which has been described as a leveled plain.

The landslide highlights the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region. For over 28 months, the Sudanese Armed Forces and the rebel Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have engaged in intense fighting in North Darfur state, forcing hundreds of thousands to flee their homes in search of safety. Many sought refuge in the mountainous terrain where the landslide occurred, only to meet this tragic fate.

The situation has been compounded by severe food shortages. The UN World Food Programme (WFP) warned last month that thousands of families in Al Fashir, the capital of North Darfur, were at risk of famine. The local health ministry also reported that 63 people, including many children, had died of malnutrition in a single week.

This natural disaster adds another layer of tragedy to a country already on the brink, underscoring the urgent need for a humanitarian response and a lasting end to the conflict.

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