By Ebi Kesiena
The Duchess of Edinburgh, Sophie, has expressed deep concern over the widespread sexual exploitation faced by Sudanese refugees who have fled into Chad to escape the brutal civil war in their home country.
During an emotional three-day visit to the region, the Duchess met with women who shared harrowing accounts of their experiences, describing how basic needs like food and water were being exchanged for sex under duress.
“People are having to exchange food and water for sex, for rape,” said Sophie after her visit to Chad, which was undertaken at the request of the UK’s Foreign Office. “That is violence being enacted through conflict, being used as a bargaining tool.”
The Duchess was visibly moved as she listened to stories of extreme hardship and violence. She recounted the testimony of one woman who fled the conflict in Sudan’s Darfur region, describing how her son and brothers were taken away, and how she saw bodies piled up in the streets “like a wall.”
Sophie’s visit marked the first royal trip to Chad and aimed to spotlight the growing humanitarian crisis resulting from Sudan’s civil war, which has forced over 10 million people to flee their homes. Neighboring Chad is now grappling with an overwhelming influx of refugees, the majority of whom are women and children, according to Buckingham Palace.
“This is a human catastrophe that is vast, and Chad is having to pick up the pieces when it can ill afford to do so,” the Duchess stated, stressing the gravity of the situation.
At a medical center in Adré, near the Sudan-Chad border, Sophie spoke with refugees and aid workers, learning about the devastating conditions in which many have arrived. She recalled the plight of a mother who, after a 10-day journey to escape violence, arrived at a refugee camp with her young child, unsure of her husband’s fate.
The Duchess highlighted the urgent need for international attention, noting that while global focus has shifted to other conflicts, the crisis unfolding in Sudan, with severe repercussions for Chad, cannot be overlooked.
“Whilst the world is focusing on other conflicts, the humanitarian crisis faced by the people of Sudan, which is landing on Chad’s shores, cannot be ignored,” Sophie said.
This visit is part of Sophie’s ongoing advocacy for the protection of women and children in conflict zones. Earlier this year, she became the first member of the British royal family to visit Ukraine following the Russian invasion. She has also traveled to other conflict-affected regions such as South Sudan, Iraq, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, championing the cause of women affected by war.
Sophie’s trip to Chad was kept under wraps until its conclusion on Monday, underscoring the sensitive and challenging nature of her work in conflict-affected areas.
