UAE Sends $3.5 Billion in Aid to Sudan Over Past Decade

UAE Deepens Decades-Long Humanitarian Commitment to Sudan with $3.5 Billion in Aid

The UAE, which has provided $3.5 billion in aid over the past ten years, has reiterated its unwavering commitment to alleviating suffering in Sudan. The UAE has rapidly increased its efforts to respond to the humanitarian catastrophe resulting from the violence in 2023, providing critical assistance through emergency assistance and long-term development projects.

The UAE provided more than $600 million in humanitarian assistance in 2023 alone, including a significant $200 million pledge at the High-Level Humanitarian Conference for the Sudanese people in Addis Ababa. The UAE has set up a vast air bridge to provide critical relief on the ground, sending 162 aircraft with food, medicine and other essentials. To support Sudanese civilians and refugees in Chad and Uganda, more than 13,000 tonnes of humanitarian supplies were sent by multiple UAE assistance ships.

The UAE has also given priority to healthcare for those impacted, exhibiting a comprehensive approach. The third such UAE-supported facility for Sudanese refugees was opened in March at the Madhol Field Hospital in Northern Bahr el Ghazal state, South Sudan.
With 100 beds and multiple specialized clinics, the hospital is expected to serve over two million people. Earlier field hospitals in Chad have already provided medical assistance to nearly 90,000 individuals.

Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, Minister of State, described the UAE’s efforts as a continuation of the humanitarian legacy of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, underscoring the country’s resolve to work closely with global partners to bring lasting peace and stability to the Sudanese people.

The UAE committed a further $100 million to regional humanitarian efforts in April 2024, with an additional $10.25 million set aside expressly to support Sudanese refugee women through UN agencies. The UAE’s emphasis on safeguarding the most vulnerable, particularly women and children, was underlined by Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation.

Looking ahead, the UAE is also advancing development projects to improve living standards in refugee camps, including plans to drill eight water wells and build 16 healthcare centers in Uganda’s Kiryandongo Refugee Camp. A separate $4 million agreement with UNICEF aims to support education for Sudanese children in Chad.

The UAE continues to be a vital humanitarian partner as the crisis worsens, with over 25 million Sudanese currently experiencing extreme food insecurity. Its multifaceted initiatives, which cover infrastructure, healthcare, education, and food security, are a reflection of a long history of giving that dates back to the 1970s, when historic development projects like the Haiya-Port Sudan Road were initiated. The Emirates have solidified their position as a regional leader in humanitarian diplomacy and aid by continuing to support Sudan during its most vulnerable moments.