The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has pledged $5 million to the Sudan Humanitarian Fund (SHF) as part of its agreement with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). This contribution is part of the UAE’s larger donation of $70 million aimed at addressing urgent humanitarian needs in Sudan through various UN agencies and humanitarian organizations. Additionally, the UAE has also donated $5 million to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the UN for the project ‘Mitigating Famine in Sudan – Support to Conflict-Affected Vulnerable Smallholder Farming and Pastoralist Households’ to provide assistance to 275,000 vulnerable households.
The FAO project, which will run for one year, aims to provide emergency crop, livestock, and veterinary assistance to these vulnerable households, benefiting approximately 1.375 million individuals. This funding is a significant part of the $100 million pledge made by the UAE in April at the ‘International Humanitarian Conference for Sudan and Neighbouring Countries’. Lana Nusseibeh, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Political Affairs, emphasized the importance of preventing famine in Sudan and stated that emergency agricultural support can alleviate the situation for the affected population.
Abdul Hakim Al Waer, Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative of FAO for the Near East and North Africa, highlighted the importance of this support in achieving the organization’s goals for the Humanitarian Response Plan for 2024. Nusseibeh reiterated the UAE’s call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Sudan and emphasized the need for a peaceful solution to the crisis. She expressed the UAE’s commitment to engaging with all stakeholders to support a political process that leads to a lasting settlement and a government where civilians can participate and lead.
In conclusion, the UAE’s contribution to the humanitarian efforts in Sudan demonstrates its commitment to supporting vulnerable populations and addressing urgent needs in the country. The funding provided to SHF and FAO will help alleviate the impact of famine and provide essential assistance to smallholder farmers and pastoralist households. By emphasizing the importance of a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Sudan, the UAE is actively working towards achieving stability and sustainable development in the region.
