The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced the signing of an agreement with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to provide $7 million to support humanitarian efforts in Sudan and South Sudan.
The agreement allocates $6 million for UNICEF operations in Sudan and $1 million for its activities in South Sudan, reinforcing the UAE’s commitment to mitigating the severe humanitarian crisis in both countries.
The ongoing conflict in Sudan has escalated into a dire crisis affecting children, with an estimated 13.6 million children urgently needing assistance. The conflict has displaced more than 6 million people, over half of whom are children, making Sudan the site of the world’s largest displacement crisis for children.
This contribution from the UAE will directly support UNICEF’s efforts to ensure that children and women in Sudan and South Sudan have access to primary healthcare, adequate clean water, and education through formal and non-formal channels, including early learning programs.
Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation, stated: “The UAE is fully committed to supporting the most vulnerable populations affected by conflict, especially the children who bear the brunt of the crisis in Sudan and South Sudan. Through this agreement with UNICEF, we are strengthening our commitment to providing life-saving assistance and ensuring that children receive the essential services they desperately need.”
The UAE will continue to stand by the brotherly people of Sudan in times of need and work with international partners to address urgent humanitarian challenges. This commitment was recently demonstrated by the UAE’s participation in the Sudan talks held in Geneva as an observer, aimed at ensuring aid delivery to those in need, especially the most vulnerable. In this context, the UAE welcomes the efforts of humanitarian actors and aid deliveries through the Adre border crossing.
Over the past decade, the UAE has provided more than $3.5 billion in aid to the Sudanese people, underscoring its commitment to assisting those in need during crises. Since the conflict erupted in 2023, the UAE has provided $230 million in humanitarian aid and sent 159 relief flights, delivering over 10,000 tons of food, medical supplies, and relief materials. Additionally, the UAE has built two field hospitals in Chad, providing medical treatment to more than 45,000 people.
Moreover, the UAE continues to call for an immediate ceasefire in the ongoing conflict and urgently demands an end to violence as a key requirement. The UAE stresses that there is no military solution and emphasizes the importance of warring parties working towards a peaceful resolution of the conflict through dialogue.
To this end, the UAE will maintain its engagement with all relevant stakeholders and support any process aimed at putting Sudan on a political path toward a lasting settlement and achieving national consensus for forming a civilian-led government.
