In brief
In a remote area of Darfur, villagers are manually excavating the site of a deadly landslide, as the toll of the tragedy continues to be uncertain. Reports suggest casualties could range from 373 to as high as 1,000, with significant challenges in rescue efforts due to ongoing civil conflict in the region.
Villagers in a remote area of Sudan's western Darfur region are trying to reach buried victims by hand after a devastating landslide on Sunday, aid group Save the Children reports.
People are excavating by hand to rescue the bodies of their relatives since there are no tools or machinery, stated Francesco Lanino, Save the Children's deputy Sudan director for programmes and operations.
The exact number of casualties remains unclear, with figures ranging from as high as 1,000 from an armed group in charge of the area, to only two as reported by the national health ministry. However, Save the Children indicated that at least 373 bodies have been recovered, according to the head of the Civil Authority.
Lanino expressed that 1,000 lives may have been lost, including an estimated 200 children, highlighting the tragedy's scale. Reportedly, there is just one known survivor in the worst-hit village among the five affected.
India's aid workers have faced significant challenges in reaching the area for aid due to its remoteness and ongoing civil conflict, which complicate rescue efforts.
The heavy rainfall that triggered the landslide has also further exacerbated the difficult circumstances in an already crisis-stricken region where humanitarian conditions continue to deteriorate.
