UAE contributes $25 million for humanitarian efforts in Sudan

The UAE has signed an agreement with the UN World Food Programme (WFP) to provide emergency food assistance to populations affected by the crisis in Sudan and South Sudan.

The beneficiaries include refugees, host communities, internally displaced people and returnees impacted by the war.

The agreement, formalised between the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and WFP, was signed on behalf of the UAE by Sultan Al Shamsi, Assistant Minister for International Development Affairs, and on behalf of WFP by Matthew Nims, Director of Washington Office.

Lana Zaki Nusseibeh, the UAE's Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Political Affairs, and Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General, were also present during the special ceremony at the UAE Mission to the UN in New York.

As many as 17.7 million people in Sudan and 7.1 million in South Sudan are facing acute food insecurity as a result of the war in Sudan.

To help alleviate this crisis, the UAE has committed a total of $25 million in aid - $20 million for Sudan and $5 million for South Sudan.

"WFP welcomes all pledges towards our lifesaving food operations in Sudan. With this contribution, we will be able to assist vulnerable people who are at risk of sliding into famine," said Cindy McCain, Executive Director of the WFP.

This contribution is part of the UAE’s $70 million commitment announced in April at the 'International Humanitarian Conference for Sudan and Neighbouring Countries' to UN agencies and humanitarian organisations to alleviate the severe humanitarian crisis in Sudan.

"We cannot allow another famine to unfold in Sudan. The long-term impacts of famine, particularly on children, are incalculable. This is a call to action to halt famine in its tracks," said Nusseibeh.

United Arab Emirates contributes USD 25M to UN World Food Programme for Humanitarian Efforts in Sudanhttps://t.co/LOCqDXIdSl pic.twitter.com/hKjc5kX6PK

— MoFA وزارة الخارجية (@mofauae) June 23, 2024