UAE signed a US$20 million agreement with the UN World Food Programme to support Sudan/Image: WAM

The United Arab Emirates has reinforced its humanitarian commitment to Sudan by signing a new cooperation agreement that will channel urgent food assistance to communities hit hardest by the ongoing conflict.The cooperation agreement was signed between the UAE Aid Agency and the United Nations World Food Programme. Under the deal, the UAE will provide a grant of US$20 million to accelerate emergency response efforts in Sudan, with a focus on delivering food assistance to people affected by the conflict and addressing urgent food security needs among vulnerable groups, including displaced people living in host communities.The agreement was signed in the presence of Dr Tareq Ahmed Al Ameri, Chairman of the UAE Aid Agency, by Rashid Salem Al Shamsi, Executive Director of Logistics Support at the Agency, and Bashar Al Hammami, Head of the WFP Partnership Office in the UAE, who represented the World Food Programme.

Support for displaced communities

Dr Tareq Ahmed Al Ameri said the agreement underlines the UAE’s continued global humanitarian leadership and its commitment to easing the suffering caused by the conflict in Sudan. He stressed the importance of meeting essential food needs for displaced populations both inside Sudan and in neighbouring host countries, including Chad, South Sudan, Uganda, and Ethiopia.He also pointed to the shared international and moral responsibility to confront the challenges facing famine-affected and high-risk areas, highlighting the need to deliver life-saving humanitarian assistance during complex crises.Bashar Al Hammami expressed appreciation for the contribution, describing it as a critical boost for ongoing relief operations. He said the US$20 million grant would support the World Food Programme’s life-saving work in Sudan and enable the organisation to reach millions of people facing acute hunger and daily hardship, with a direct and measurable impact on vulnerable families.

The latest agreement builds on the UAE’s long-standing support for the Sudanese people. Between 2015 and 2025, the UAE provided US$4.24 billion in assistance to Sudan. This includes US$784 million in humanitarian aid delivered between 2023 and 2025 following the outbreak of the civil war, reflecting sustained engagement during the most critical phase of the crisis.

Alongside financial support, the UAE has reiterated the importance of coordinated action with regional and international partners. It has also renewed calls for a humanitarian ceasefire to protect civilians and ensure safe, unimpeded access for aid delivery, to contribute to long-term stability and peace for the Sudanese people.