UAE Signs Agreement with UN WFP for Emergency Food Aid in Sudan and South Sudan

UAE Signs Agreement with UN WFP for Emergency Food Aid in Sudan and South Sudan/Reuters

Dil Bar Irshad | June 24, 2024 | 08:30 AM IST | UAE, World | Follow on Google News

UAE Signs Agreement with UN WFP for Emergency Food Aid in Sudan and South Sudan

UAE Signs Agreement with UN WFP for Emergency Food Aid in Sudan and South Sudan

Key Highlights:

1. UAE to provide $25 million in emergency food aid to Sudan and South Sudan.
2. 24.8 million people in the region facing acute food insecurity due to war.
3. The aid is part of a larger $70 million commitment to alleviate the crisis.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has signed an agreement with the UN World Food Programme (WFP) to deliver emergency food assistance to those affected by the crisis in Sudan and South Sudan. This aid will support refugees, host communities, internally displaced people, and returnees impacted by the ongoing conflict.

The agreement was formalized by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and WFP. Sultan Al Shamsi, Assistant Minister for International Development Affairs, signed on behalf of the UAE, while Matthew Nims, Director of the Washington Office, represented WFP. The signing ceremony took place at the UAE Mission to the UN in New York, attended by Lana Zaki Nusseibeh, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Political Affairs, and Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the UN.

In response to the acute food insecurity affecting 17.7 million people in Sudan and 7.1 million in South Sudan, the UAE has committed a total of $25 million in aid—$20 million for Sudan and $5 million for South Sudan. This initiative aims to mitigate the severe humanitarian impact of the war in the region.

Cindy McCain, Executive Director of the WFP, expressed gratitude for the UAE’s contribution, stating, “WFP welcomes all pledges towards our lifesaving food operations in Sudan. With this contribution, we will be able to assist vulnerable people who are at risk of sliding into famine.”

This aid package is part of the UAE’s broader $70 million commitment announced in April at the “International Humanitarian Conference for Sudan and Neighbouring Countries” to support UN agencies and humanitarian organizations in addressing the crisis.

Lana Zaki Nusseibeh emphasized the urgency of the situation, saying, “With widespread hunger in Sudan and neighbouring countries, our partnership with WFP will assist those most vulnerable facing the devastating ramifications of this war. We cannot allow another famine to unfold in Sudan. The long-term impacts of famine, particularly on children, are incalculable. This is a call to action to halt famine in its tracks.”

(Inputs from AWM)

Dil Bar Irshad

Dil Bar Irshad is a seasoned journalist, hails from Jammu Kashmir's Doda, covers political, social, business stories, index stories.