Gugu Mbatha-Raw Instagram – Traveling to Chad with @refugees has been deeply emotional and eye-opening. In Adré on the border of Sudan, I met Sudanese women and children who have travelled for days in scorching heat and survived horrific abuse.
Saba had studied economics and worked at a travel agency at Khartoum airport. She arrived with just her daughter and her passport after a month of travel, through tears she told me “Everything in Sudan is finished. No home, no education for my baby, no life, no anything. My husband… all things for my life, are dead. Me and my daughter come here, come without anything.”
Mourina covered her face and wept when she told me “I had a six-year-old, Maysoun, and Mazaher, who was four years old. Both of them died in the same place. I lost everything, no husband, no children. I lost them in the war. The journey to safety was so hard. Many people were trying to flee and along the way we were robbed. Even my wedding ring and the money I had saved for so long were stolen. I came in only my clothes and a blanket from home. This is all I have left from Sudan. My home was destroyed along with everything in it”
Fleeing in terror, separated from family members, carrying trauma no one should ever have to bear. Yet both women had a strong message for Peace and for the war to end. I promised to share their stories with you, their courage, dignity and resilience stay with me, as does the urgency of their situation.
Sudan is now the world’s largest displacement crisis, but still one of the least reported and funded. The need for support is overwhelming and humanitarian workers here are doing everything they can, but resources are stretched far beyond capacity and crucial funds are lacking.
I’m so grateful to all the women who shared their stories with me. Their strength stays with me and as we mark the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, I’m adding my voice to call for urgent support so UNHCR can continue providing safety, shelter, legal help and psychosocial support to those who need it most.
I hope you will stand with them too. ❤️
If you are able to donate to UNHCR, please see link in my bio unhcr.org/gugu-sudan 🙏🏽
📷 UNHCR / Helene Caux | Posted on 10/Dec/2025 22:56:51
