UAE and IFRC Deepen Strategic Humanitarian Partnership to Address Global Crises
Abu Dhabi, April 9:
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates has taken a significant step forward in bolstering global humanitarian efforts through high-level talks with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).To strengthen cooperation on humanitarian projects, Sultan Mohammed Al Shamsi, Assistant Minister for Development and International Organizations, welcomed Xavier Castellanos Mosquera, IFRC Under Secretary General, to the Ministry’s Abu Dhabi headquarters.
Both sides used the meeting as an opportunity to restate their shared commitment to meeting urgent humanitarian needs around the world.
Their discussions emphasized the critical importance of ensuring that life-saving aid reaches the most vulnerable populations—particularly children, women, the older people, and those facing serious health conditions. The UAE and IFRC agreed to step up their collaboration in providing relief effectively and morally, particularly in areas ravaged by disease, tragedy, or violence.
Al Shamsi emphasized the UAE’s continuous efforts to assist international relief efforts and reaffirmed the country’s unwavering commitment to global humanitarianism. He acknowledged the IFRC’s noteworthy work in crisis-affected nations and recognized the critical role the organization plays in alleviating human suffering through timely, well-coordinated responses.
Castellanos reciprocated by expressing his sincere gratitude for the UAE’s proactive humanitarian approach and highlighting the Emirates’ crucial contributions to the international relief effort. He announced plans to investigate a new stage of cooperation and praised the Emirates Red Crescent Society (ERCS) for its steadfast dedication to emergency healthcare and catastrophe response. This involves an emphasis on enhancing the emergency health infrastructure of ERCS by means of capacity-building programs in collaboration with the IFRC.
The dialogue also covered joint projects currently in motion and sought new avenues to extend cooperation—ranging from boosting emergency readiness to improving long-term support strategies for communities in crisis. Both sides emphasized the value of strategic partnerships and innovation in meeting today’s increasingly complex humanitarian demands.
The summit was significant because it reaffirmed the common dedication to the fundamental humanitarian ideals of humanity, impartiality, and neutrality. According to the officials, maintaining confidence and efficacy in relief efforts across all regions depends on these values.
As their talks came to an end, the UAE and the IFRC had a common goal: to deepen their long-lasting collaboration by working together to provide timely, respectable, and long-lasting aid to those in greatest needed.