> At a Glance
> – Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, highlights Sudan’s war reaching 1,000 days on Jan. 9
> – She visited the Chad-Sudan border in October 2024, meeting refugees who fled militia violence
> – 9.3 million displaced, 4.3 million beyond borders, 150,000+ dead, per UN & BBC
> – Why it matters: The conflict has become the world’s biggest hunger & displacement crisis, yet draws little global attention
Sudan’s civil war quietly hit a grim milestone-1,000 days-and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, is urging the world to notice.
A Royal Eye-Opener
In a rare essay for The Telegraph, the 60-year-old royal recalls standing in Adré, Chad, last October, watching families stumble across the dusty border.
> “I shuddered to imagine what these exhausted, traumatised people had experienced.”
She heard children describe losing entire families and mothers recount sexual exploitation traded for food and water.
Crisis by the Numbers
Key data from aid agencies:
- 150,000+ people killed (BBC)
- 9.3 million internally displaced (UN)
- 4.3 million refugees outside Sudan
- World’s biggest hunger crisis (UN)
| Statistic | Figure |
|---|---|
| Death toll | 150,000+ |
| Displaced inside Sudan | 9.3 million |
| Refugees abroad | 4.3 million |
Focus on Women
The Duchess, a UN Women, Peace and Security champion, says women give her hope.
> “Their resilience reminded me that when women are supported, whole communities recover.”
She watched refugee women care for unaccompanied children and lead informal schools in the Adré transit camp.
Call for Action
Sophie wants organisations on the ground to use the 1,000-day mark as a springboard for renewed aid and diplomacy.
> “We cannot change the past 1,000 days, but we can shape what happens next.”
Her visit made her the first British royal to officially visit Chad, adding to prior trips supporting survivors of conflict-related sexual violence in Kosovo, Sierra Leone, South Sudan and the DRC.
Key Takeaways
- Sudan’s war has entered its 1,000th day with minimal media coverage
- Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, witnessed mass displacement and gender-based violence on the Chad border
- Women refugees are leading community recovery despite extreme hardship
The royal hopes spotlighting the world’s largest humanitarian crisis will push global powers to act before more lives are lost.
