The Duchess of Edinburgh sends powerful message on war

The Duchess of Edinburgh has called for an end to an ongoing war
which has left millions of people in need of humanitarian
support.

Sophie joined an event in London focused on the impact of the
conflict in Sudan which has seen 30 million people need aid.

The roundtable, organised by global children’s charity Plan
International UK, took place on the third anniversary of the
war starting.

And as she spoke at the event, the Duchess, who is patron of
Plan, said ”Sudan is reaping the most horrendous human cost on
the planet.”

The Duchess, who has visited the Chad/ Sudan border in 2024,
took part in the discussions which were designed to give a voice to
the Sudanese people. Sophie heard first hand experiences of the
conflict and the impact it is having on girls. It is estimated that
around 12 million people in Sudan are at risk of gender based
violence. Many girls are losing access to education while the risks
of displacement and violence continue.

As she spoke, Sophie reflected on her own conversations with
those impacted. She said ”I’ve had the
privilege of speaking to women impacted by
conflicts from all over the world – but the stories from Sudan
are the most harrowing I have ever heard. No human should ever
have to encounter such devastation and
violence.”

And she made a promise, adding ”we must not forget about
Sudan and I will keep raising my voice where and when I
can.”

The conflict in Sudan began in April 2023 when a power struggle
began between the country’s army and a paramilitary group called
the Rapid Support Forces. In 2019, the two forces had worked
together to oust Omar al-Bashir, Sudan’s then ruler. A civilian led
government followed but it was replaced in 2021 when the military
took power.

However, the leader of the armed forces, General Abdel Fattah
al-Burhan, and the leader of the RSF, General Mohamed Hamdan
Dagalo, began to disagree and in 2023, fighting broke out after
members of the RSF were moved around Sudan in a gesture that the
army saw as a threat. The fighting has led to tens of thousands of
deaths. The United Nations has described the flight of millions
from the country and the plight of those left behind as the world’s
largest humanitarian crisis.

During the roundtable, guests were asked to write a message of
solidarity for the people in Sudan and place it on a reflection
tree. Sophie’s note read ”peace is the only option. The people
of Sudan are not forgotten’.

The CEO of Plan International, Rose Caldwell, said ”As we
mark three years since the start of the conflict, millions of
children – especially girls – continue to face immense challenges,
from disrupted education to increased risk of violence. Despite the
scale of this crisis, it remains critically underreported
and underfunded. We are honoured by The Duchess of
Edinburgh’s continued support in helping to shine a light on Sudan
and amplify the voices of young people calling for
change.”

The Duchess of Edinburgh spoke to many of those present about
their own experiences and then wrote her own powerful message for
the reflection tree.