UAE And IFRC Sign Cooperation To Boost Sudan Humanitarian Aid Efforts

The United Arab Emirates has formalised a new cooperation agreement with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to support humanitarian operations for people affected by the conflict in Sudan, assigning US$11 million from the US$100 million pledged during the United Nations Security Council meeting in October, as displacement grows across Sudan and neighbouring host countries.

The agreement, signed by Dr. Tareq Ahmed Al Ameri, Chairman of the UAE Aid Agency, and Jagan Chapagain, Secretary-General of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, is structured to strengthen emergency services for Sudanese refugees and host communities, while also reinforcing the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies’ rapid response capacity.

Under the new arrangement, US$10 million is designated for host communities supporting Sudanese refugees in Chad, South Sudan, Uganda, and Ethiopia, while US$1 million is directed to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies’ Disaster Response Emergency Fund to improve swift emergency deployments, particularly health, water, sanitation, and related life-saving services across affected border regions.

Dr. Tareq Ahmed Al Ameri reaffirmed the UAE’s policy of assisting people affected by disasters, crises, and conflicts, and highlighted its support for joint humanitarian work with international partners to keep essential supplies, healthcare, and basic services flowing to those most at risk, including children, women, and older people, across Sudan and the surrounding countries.

"The UAE’s allocation of this funding comes amid a deteriorating humanitarian situation and widespread displacement within Sudan and neighbouring countries," Dr. Al Ameri said. "This reality necessitates intensified international cooperation and urgent action to strengthen the provision of basic services and enhance the resilience of more than one million Sudanese refugees and host communities in Chad, South Sudan, Uganda, and Ethiopia."

Jagan Chapagain underlined how the crisis has reshaped displacement patterns in the region, describing how the movement of people has placed extra pressure on Chad, South Sudan, Uganda, and Ethiopia, where local systems, especially health, water, and sanitation infrastructure, are under strain from both established residents and large refugee populations.

"This agreement with the UAE Aid Agency will enable Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Chad, South Sudan, Uganda, and Ethiopia to expand essential health, water, and sanitation services for refugees and host communities, while also augmenting the IFRC’s Disaster Response Emergency Fund to ensure swift and effective humanitarian action," he explained.

The structure of the US$11 million assistance package is outlined below, showing how the agreement separates direct support for host communities from funding aimed at improving the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies’ global emergency response pool for crises related to Sudan and other disasters.

UAE humanitarian aid to Sudan: long-term contributions and global ranking

The current agreement sits within a broader record of UAE assistance to Sudan, with US$4.24 billion provided between 2015 and 2025, covering development projects, relief supplies, and economic support, while since the start of the present crisis from 2023 to 2025, the UAE has allocated US$784 million in humanitarian aid targeted at urgent needs.

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the UAE ranks second worldwide, after the United States, for the amount of aid directed to Sudan since the conflict began, reflecting sustained engagement in relief operations and financial backing for international partners on the ground.

The UAE authorities state that this latest cooperation with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies reflects a continued commitment to the Sudanese population and to broader international efforts aimed at addressing the humanitarian emergency and encouraging stability and peace in Sudan and the wider region through coordinated, practical support.

With inputs from WAM