GENEVA, June 27 – The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Wednesday concluded an agreement for a US$20 million contribution from the UAE to support UNHCR’s humanitarian operations in Sudan and neighbouring countries.
The Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported that the funding aims to enhance the living conditions and safety of displaced persons and refugees.
The agreement, formalised between the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and UNHCR, was signed on behalf of the UAE by Assistant Minister for International Development Affairs, Sultan Al Shamsi, and on behalf of UNHCR by Head of Donor Relations and Resource Mobilisation Services, Mark Manly, in the presence of Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Political Affairs, Lana Zaki Nusseibeh, and the High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, at the UNHCR headquarters in Geneva.
The funds will aid in improving shelter, healthcare, and basic services for thousands of displaced individuals in both Sudan and South Sudan.
Lana Zaki Nusseibeh said, “Our commitment to humanitarian causes is reinforced through strategic partnerships such as this one with UNHCR.
“Together, we can make a significant impact on the ground in Sudan, providing relief and hope to the most vulnerable. We remain steadfast in standing with the people of Sudan during this crisis.”
“We look forward to working with other partners to ensure the commitments made in Paris are made tangible on the ground,” she added.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, observed: “The people of Sudan are enduring the dreadful consequences of this brutal war and need urgent support.
“State contributions are essential in providing much-needed lifesaving humanitarian assistance to vulnerable people in Sudan forced to flee.”
The UAE contribution to the UNHCR is part of a broader commitment of US$70 million dedicated to addressing urgent humanitarian needs in Sudan, through UN agencies and humanitarian organisations.
This funding is a substantial portion of the US$100 million pledge made by the UAE in April at the ‘International Humanitarian Conference for Sudan and Neighbouring Countries’.
This donation takes the total amount of UAE aid to Sudan in the past 10 years to more than US$3.5 billion.
