UAE Raises Alarm Over Famine Affecting 25 Million in Sudan
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has expressed profound concern regarding the worsening humanitarian crisis unfolding in Sudan. With over 25 million Sudanese citizens now facing severe food insecurity, the UAE’s alarm highlights the urgent need for global attention and intervention to address the critical situation. This crisis has led to an alarming level of distress among the population, necessitating immediate and coordinated efforts to alleviate the suffering of those affected.
UAE’s Urgent Appeal for International Action
The UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a press statement conveying deep concern over the declared famine impacting various regions in Sudan, particularly in North Darfur. This area includes Zamzam camp, which shelters more than half a million displaced individuals. The UAE has also raised alarms about the potential famine in the Abu Shouk and Al Salam camps, as well as in nine other Sudanese states where the population is enduring extreme hunger conditions. The UAE’s statement emphasizes the need for international focus and action to address these severe food shortages and prevent further deterioration of the humanitarian crisis.
In its press release, the UAE welcomed the UN Security Council’s recent meeting that highlighted the urgent need to respond to the famine crisis in Sudan. The UAE underscores the importance of maintaining global attention on Sudan to effectively manage and mitigate the crisis. The statement calls for an emergency response to secure a ceasefire and facilitate the swift delivery of humanitarian aid to affected areas.
Humanitarian Aid Delays and Restrictions
Despite the critical need for humanitarian assistance, aid trucks remain stranded at the Sudanese border, unable to deliver essential supplies to those in desperate need. The UAE has criticized the Sudanese Armed Forces for imposing restrictions on humanitarian access and has called on the Rapid Support Forces to ensure that humanitarian workers can operate safely and without fear of attack. The UAE’s Foreign Affairs Minister condemned the use of starvation as a weapon of war and the denial of humanitarian access, describing these actions as clear violations of international humanitarian law.
The UAE’s statement highlights the necessity of expanding cross-border and cross-line humanitarian access to save millions of lives. The UAE asserts that the international community must not allow the Sudanese people to be used as a bargaining chip in political negotiations. The UAE has urged the UN Security Council to utilize all available tools to address the catastrophic situation, including the potential authorization of UN humanitarian agencies to reach those in need through cross-line and cross-border routes.
Call for Immediate Ceasefire and Diplomatic Efforts
The UAE has called for the warring parties in Sudan to agree to an immediate and permanent ceasefire. The statement emphasizes the need to prioritize human life over military objectives and to allow for the unhindered and safe passage of humanitarian assistance across the country. The UAE supports ongoing diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict and appreciates the efforts of the United States in organizing upcoming ceasefire talks in Geneva, as well as the contributions of Saudi Arabia and Switzerland in co-hosting these talks.
The UAE remains committed to its role as a long-standing humanitarian partner in Sudan. In response to the crisis, the UAE has allocated USD 70 million to address the urgent humanitarian needs within Sudan through UN agencies and humanitarian organizations. Additionally, USD 30 million has been designated to support Sudanese refugees in neighboring countries.
Sudan Civil War and Food Insecurity
Since April 15, 2023, Sudan has been embroiled in deadly clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The conflict has resulted in the deaths of approximately 15,550 individuals and displaced around 8.8 million people, according to the latest estimates from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The ongoing violence has exacerbated extreme levels of food insecurity, with 18 million people—37% of the population—experiencing severe acute food insecurity.
The conflict has forced millions of families to make desperate choices to feed their loved ones, often enduring prolonged periods without food. Children are particularly vulnerable, with at least 10,400 schools in conflict-affected areas closed, leaving an estimated 19 million children without education and at high risk of abuse or exploitation, as reported by the International Rescue Committee.
The UAE’s response underscores the critical need for immediate and coordinated international efforts to address the famine and humanitarian crisis in Sudan. The UAE’s commitment to providing relief and support, combined with its call for global action, aims to mitigate the severe impacts of the crisis and assist the millions of people affected by this humanitarian disaster.
