A landslide struck Tarasin village in the Jebel Marra range of western Darfur, Sudan, after days of heavy rain in late August. The Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM), which controls the area, said the disaster buried most of the village and killed more than 1,000 people, with only one survivor. The SLM described the event as massive and devastating and appealed to the United Nations and other aid groups for assistance in recovering those buried under mud and debris. Images released by the SLM showed large sections of the mountainside collapsing, leaving the village covered in thick mud with uprooted trees and broken beams; the group suggested that all residents may have died. Tarasin sits about 160 kilometers (100 miles) southwest of El-Fasher in the Marrah Mountains, a rugged volcanic chain extending roughly 160 kilometers (99 miles) across the region.

The landslide occurred amid ongoing fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces. The SLM controls parts of the Jebel Marra but has largely stayed out of the main fighting, while hundreds of thousands have fled into SLM-held territory to escape violence. The broader conflict has caused tens of thousands of deaths and displaced millions; some accounts put the toll at more than 40,000 dead and more than 14 million displaced, while other reports describe the figure as tens of thousands killed. In North Darfur’s capital El-Fasher, the city has been surrounded for more than 500 days, and a new RSF offensive aims to capture it, leaving hundreds of thousands trapped behind earthen walls and at growing risk of starvation and danger from ongoing shelling. UNICEF warns malnutrition is spreading in the blockaded city, with about 260,000 people there, including 130,000 children; in one week, 63 people—mostly women and children—died of malnutrition. Aid access is hindered by restrictions, complicating relief efforts as conditions deteriorate.

Aid agencies report significant logistical challenges in Darfur, including the absence of helicopters and damaged roads, with rain complicating crossings of valleys. Satellite analyses from Yale University’s Humanitarian Research Lab have noted the fortification of El-Fasher, including more than 19 miles (about 30.6 kilometers) of earthen walls built since May 9 to create barriers around the city, described as a “kill box” that could hinder movement and access for civilians and aid.

The Tarasin landslide is part of a broader humanitarian crisis linked to Sudan’s civil war, which has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions, and which has intensified humanitarian needs across Darfur. The region is known for landslides during the rainy season, peaking in August, and the area’s difficult access compounds the challenges of delivering aid to those affected by both the disaster and the ongoing conflict. Tarasin is part of a region associated with citrus farming, and relief efforts are focusing on reaching those stranded and recovering the dead while the broader conflict continues to impede assistance.

Original Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 (slm) (darfur) (sudan) (darfur) (sudan) (displacement)

Actionable information - The article does not give readers any concrete steps they can take right now. It notes calls for aid and outlines the situation, but there are no safety tips, evacuation guidance, contact points, or immediate actions someone could follow (e.g., how to stay safe, what to do if in affected areas, where to donate through recognized channels).

Educational depth - It provides useful background: the broader Darfur crisis, displacement figures, and the difficulty of delivering aid. However, it doesn't explain the technical reasons landslides occur in Jebel Marra, the data sources or uncertainties behind the numbers, or a deeper causal analysis of the conflict that contributes to the humanitarian crisis.

Personal relevance - For most readers not connected to Darfur, relevance is limited. The piece could matter to people with family, partners, or work in humanitarian aid in Sudan, or to readers tracking global refugee and hunger issues. But the article itself doesn’t help readers connect the crisis to their own lives beyond general awareness.

Public service function - The article does not deliver official warnings, emergency contacts, or practical safety guidance. It mentions aid needs and access challenges, but there are no actionable public-safety resources or step-by-step instructions for affected communities or donors.

Practicality of advice - No practical instructions are offered. If the goal were to help readers act, the piece would need clear, doable steps (e.g., how to verify aid channels, whom to contact for assistance, or how to respond if they have relatives in the area).

Long-term impact - The article raises awareness of a severe crisis, which can be valuable for informing and motivating aid and policy responses. But it falls short of offering guidance that would help individuals prepare or protect themselves in the long term (e.g., learning about predictable weather patterns, infrastructure resilience, or ongoing aid planning).

Emotional or psychological impact - It conveys the gravity of the situation, which can be distressing. It does not provide coping resources, reassurance, or guidance to help readers respond calmly or effectively.

Clickbait or ad-driven language - The wording includes dramatic phrases like “massive and devastating,” but this is common in crisis reporting and generally tied to the facts. It does not appear overtly manipulative or designed purely for clicks, though some language might heighten alarm.

Missed opportunities and how to improve - Clear, real steps could be added: safety guidance for people in or near Darfur (evacuation, avoiding unstable slopes, emergency kits, when to seek shelter), and practical public information (trusted aid channels, how to donate, verification tips to avoid scams). - The article could link to credible sources for further help and data (for example, UN OCHA, ReliefWeb, UNICEF Sudan, IFRC/Red Cross) and include contact options or a simple checklist for readers who want to assist or stay informed.

One or two ways a normal person could find better information - Check official humanitarian sources for Sudan (UN OCHA Sudan, ReliefWeb updates, UNICEF Sudan, IFRC) for verified numbers, safety guidance, and how to donate through recognized organizations. - Look up government travel advisories or humanitarian aid guides from reputable outlets, and seek contact with local NGOs or international agencies operating in Sudan for up-to-date safety steps and donation channels.

Bottom line - The article is informative for broad context but provides little real help for readers to act or protect themselves. It offers background on the crisis and mentions aid needs, but it lacks actionable steps, practical safety guidance, and concrete resources. It could be much more useful with simple safety tips, verified aid channels, and links to reliable, up-to-date sources for further information.

A massive landslide in Sudan’s western Darfur region has destroyed the Tarasin village in the Jebel Marra mountains and killed more than 1,000 people, with only one survivor, according to the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM) led by Abdulwahid al-Nur. This shows bias by relying on a single source for the casualty figure and event description. Because the claim comes from the SLM alone, there is no independent verification cited in the sentence. The wording also amplifies the numbers, which can shape how readers view the scale of the disaster.

The group said the disaster followed several days of heavy rain and called the event “massive and devastating.” This uses emotionally loaded language to push readers toward a strong emotional reaction. The description comes directly from the SLM, not from independent observers, which can color how readers judge the event. It signals a sensational frame rather than a neutral report.

Images posted by the SLM on social media showed large parts of the mountainside collapsing, leaving the village buried under thick mud, with uprooted trees and broken beams. This shows bias through sourcing image evidence from a partisan group. Relying on SLM social media as the primary visual proof can skew perception without independent verification. It frames the scene through the SLM’s portrayal and may influence how readers understand the severity.

The United Nations describes the conflict as causing the world’s largest displacement and hunger crises, with about 10 million people displaced inside Sudan and another 4 million fleeing to neighboring countries. This relies on a single authoritative source to frame the crisis as extreme. The text does not present other assessments or counterpoints, which can make the portrayal feel one-sided. Citing the UN can lend authority, but it also sets a particular, alarmist frame for readers.

The SLM holds some areas of the Jebel Marra range and has mostly stayed out of the fighting. This sentence frames the SLM as largely uninvolved in fighting, which can bias readers against viewing the SLM as a dominant actor. It presents the SLM in a relatively favorable or non-threatening light. By repeating the SLM’s stance, the text reduces scrutiny of its role in the broader conflict.

The text carries strong sadness and horror. It states that Tarasin village was destroyed by a landslide, killing more than 1,000 people with only one survivor. That stark fact, along with the words “massive and devastating,” builds a deep sense of tragedy. The description of the village buried under thick mud, uprooted trees, and broken beams adds vivid, painful imagery that makes readers feel grief for those lost and for the survivors. Fear and danger appear through mention of heavy rain, landslides, and the fact that transport routes can become impassable, plus the ongoing war. The sense of urgency and desperation comes from the SLM’s plea for help and the explicit goal to recover those buried, which signals that time is critical. Hope flickers in the acknowledgment that aid groups could still help, but that hope is tempered by the scale of loss and the difficulty of access. The overall tone also conveys concern for the millions who are displaced and hungry, underscoring a global emergency.

These emotions guide the reader toward sympathy and a call to action. The numbers—over 1,000 dead, millions displaced—make the crisis feel real and very serious, pushing readers to care. Phrases like “massive and devastating” and “world’s largest displacement and hunger crises” amplify the gravity and urge a response. The use of images “showed large parts of the mountainside collapsing” makes the danger personal and memorable, strengthening the reader’s desire to help. The request to the United Nations and other aid groups frames action as a moral duty, inviting support from international readers. Repetition of crisis language—displacement, hunger, aid delivery challenges—keeps the focus on need and urgency, guiding readers to feel worried, compassionate, and ready to support relief efforts.

The writer uses emotion to persuade by pairing hard facts with vivid, alarming language. The concrete numbers give credibility while the adjectives like “massive,” “devastating,” and the phrase “largest displacement and hunger crises” push readers to see the issue as extreme and urgent. The micro-story elements—the village, the lone survivor, the dramatic imagery—personalize the event and move readers to care more than abstract numbers would. This combination aims to build trust in the seriousness of the situation and to motivate readers to support aid efforts, even as it reminds of the challenges of delivering help in a conflict zone. The emotional cues are intentional tools to shift readers toward sympathy, concern, and action rather than detached understanding.