UAE Contributes $5 Million To Aid Sudan Through UN Partnership

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has formalised an agreement with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) to allocate US$5 million to the Sudan Humanitarian Fund (SHF). The signing ceremony took place in New York at the UAE Mission to the UN. Sultan Al Shamsi, Assistant Minister for International Development Affairs, represented the UAE, while Edem Wosornu, Director of the Operations and Advocacy Division, signed on behalf of OCHA.

Present at the ceremony were Lana Nusseibeh, Assistant Minister for Political Affairs and Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations. Martin Griffiths, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, expressed gratitude towards the UAE for their generous support.

Griffiths stated, "We are deeply grateful to the Government and the people of the United Arab Emirates for your generous support of $70 million to help bring relief to the people of Sudan through the United Nations. With this allocation, we can bolster our lifesaving support to families and communities caught up in Sudan's humanitarian crisis."

The UAE’s contribution to the SHF will facilitate access to funds aimed at addressing critical humanitarian needs on the ground. This initiative aligns with the annual Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP), ensuring that aid reaches those most affected by the crisis.

Lana Nusseibeh highlighted the UAE’s long-term commitment to Sudan. "The UAE’s long-term support to Sudan is a testament to our dedication to fostering a prosperous Sudan and promoting stability in the region. We are pleased to partner with OCHA and other UN agencies to deliver vital aid to those most impacted," she said.

Nusseibeh reiterated the UAE’s call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Sudan. She emphasised that there is no military solution to the conflict and urged all parties to return to negotiations. The UAE remains committed to engaging with relevant stakeholders to support any process aimed at achieving a lasting settlement and national consensus.

Broader Commitment

The UAE’s contribution is part of a broader commitment of $70 million dedicated to addressing urgent humanitarian needs in Sudan through UN agencies and humanitarian organisations. This funding is a significant portion of the $100 million pledge made by the UAE in April at the ‘International Humanitarian Conference for Sudan and Neighbouring Countries’.

This recent contribution brings the total amount of UAE aid to Sudan over the past decade to more than $3.5 billion. The UAE prioritises protecting civilians and civilian facilities, facilitating humanitarian assistance through multiple routes into Sudan, and ensuring aid delivery to those most vulnerable.

With inputs from WAM