By Staff Reporter
The United Arab Emirates has pledged $500 million to support urgent humanitarian needs in Sudan, reaffirming its unwavering commitment to delivering life-saving assistance to civilians affected by the ongoing civil war.
The pledge was announced at the Sudan Donors Conference hosted by the United States, where Lana Zaki Nusseibeh, UAE Minister of State, led the Emirati delegation.
During her address, Nusseibeh expressed appreciation to the United States for convening the conference at a critical moment and for drawing global attention to Sudan’s worsening humanitarian catastrophe, particularly as the holy month of Ramadan approaches.
“Today, more than **30 million Sudanese — over half the population — require humanitarian assistance,” Nusseibeh said. “Alongside the generous pledge from the United States, the UAE is committing $500 million to help meet urgent humanitarian needs. This reflects our steadfast commitment to ensuring essential, life-saving support reaches civilians affected by this devastating conflict.”
She also commended US President Donald Trump’s leadership, noting his support for a Sudan that is peaceful, united, and stable.
Call for a Ceasefire and Neutral Humanitarian Aid
Nusseibeh praised Tom Fletcher, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator at OCHA, for his efforts in supporting the Sudanese people, as well as the collective work of the Quad group.
She reiterated the Quad’s long-standing position that Sudan’s future must be determined by its own people, stressing the need for a permanent ceasefire and a credible, inclusive civilian-led transitional process, fully independent of warring parties and extremist groups.
The UAE reaffirmed its support for an immediate ceasefire to allow humanitarian organisations safe access across Sudan. Nusseibeh emphasised that humanitarian aid must never be politicised or weaponised and highlighted the importance of programmes supporting women and survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.
A Decade of Humanitarian Commitment
Nusseibeh underscored the UAE’s enduring support for Sudan, noting that Emirati assistance over the past decade has exceeded $4.24 billion, including more than $800 million in humanitarian aid since 2023 alone.
Following the conference, she participated in a Quad meeting with Massad Boulos, Senior Advisor to the US President on Arab and Middle Eastern Affairs, alongside representatives from Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
The latest pledge injects renewed momentum into international efforts to address one of the region’s most complex humanitarian crises and reflects the UAE’s policy of early intervention and large-scale support.
Long-Term and Regional Humanitarian Support
Between 2015 and 2025, UAE assistance to Sudan covered humanitarian relief, healthcare, education, development, and infrastructure. Since the outbreak of war in April 2023, the UAE has provided $784 million, primarily through UN agencies and international organisations to ensure neutral and secure aid delivery.
The UAE has also strengthened international engagement on Sudan, including a $200 million pledge at the High-Level Humanitarian Conference in Addis Ababa in February 2025 and an additional $100 million announced at a UN Security Council meeting in October 2025 to support humanitarian operations in El Fasher.
Humanitarian Air and Sea Bridge
Working with UN agencies and international NGOs, the UAE has dispatched 162 aircraft and vessels, delivering thousands of tonnes of food and medical supplies, including 800 tonnes of urgent food aid to displaced populations in El Fasher.
Support for Refugees in Neighbouring Countries
UAE assistance has extended beyond Sudan’s borders to countries hosting refugees. This includes 5,542 tonnes of aid to Chad, drilling five water wells, supporting 11 health facilities in Uganda, delivering 200 tonnes of aid to Uganda, and providing 300 tonnes of food supplies to South Sudan.
Healthcare, Women and Children at the Centre
In March 2025, the UAE established three field hospitals for Sudanese refugees in South Sudan and Chad, which have collectively treated over 90,000 cases. In coordination with the World Health Organization, the UAE has also supported 127 health facilities across 14 Sudanese states.
Additionally, the UAE allocated $70 million to UN agencies operating inside Sudan and $30 million to support neighbouring host countries. A further $10.25 million was earmarked to support Sudanese refugee women through WHO, UNFPA, UNHCR, and the Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund, alongside education support for refugee children in partnership with UNICEF.
This comprehensive approach highlights the UAE’s sustained humanitarian role through coordinated international action, ensuring aid reaches those most in need while alleviating the suffering of Sudanese civilians during one of the most challenging periods in the country’s modern history.
