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Duchess Sophie: World Ignores Sudan's 1,000-Day War
9 Jan
Summary
- Duchess Sophie highlighted Sudan's 1,000-day conflict in a recent essay.
- She witnessed firsthand the devastating impact on women and girls in Chad.
- The war has created the world's largest hunger crisis and displacement emergency.
The Duchess of Edinburgh has used the somber milestone of 1,000 days of conflict in Sudan to draw global attention to the devastating humanitarian crisis. In a recent essay, she voiced concern that the world is largely ignoring the immense suffering caused by the civil war, which began in April 2023.
During a visit to Adré, Chad, in October 2024, Duchess Sophie witnessed the firsthand impact of the conflict, encountering refugees who had fled extreme brutality. She described hearing shocking accounts of loss, including sexual exploitation endured by women in exchange for basic necessities. The United Nations has identified Sudan as experiencing the world's most severe hunger crisis and largest displacement emergency, with over 9.3 million people uprooted.
Despite the immense trauma, the Duchess found hope in the resilience of women refugees who are caring for displaced children. She advocates for empowering women, recognizing their central role in crisis survival and peacebuilding. Sophie's efforts align with her work as a champion for the UN's Women, Peace and Security Agenda and the UK's initiative to prevent sexual violence in conflict.
