UAE ramps up humanitarian aid to Sudan amid ongoing conflict

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced an increase in humanitarian aid deliveries to support people in Sudan suffering from the ongoing civil war, despite repeated concerns for over Abu Dhabi’s alleged role in the bloody conflict.

According to a statement by the UAE’s Strategic Communication Department, the Emirates have launched a series of emergency relief operations to Sudan, which include the delivery of 159 relief flights carrying over 10,000 tons of food, medical and relief supplies.

Stating that the efforts are in response to the ongoing and escalating humanitarian crisis in Sudan and that the supplies are critical to addressing the Sudanese population’s urgent needs amid shortages of essential supplies, the department added that the “UAE has also played a pivotal role in supporting Sudanese refugees who have fled to neighbouring countries. As part of its comprehensive humanitarian strategy, the UAE has constructed two field hospitals in Chad, which have provided vital medical care to those displaced by the conflict … underscoring the UAE’s commitment to delivering life-saving medical assistance”.

It further stated that the Emirates’ “swift and substantial response reflects its long-standing commitment to humanitarian principles and its solidarity with the Sudanese people during this challenging time. As the situation in Sudan continues to evolve, the UAE remains a key player in the global effort to alleviate the suffering of those affected by the conflict, providing both immediate relief and long-term support”.

The department also claimed that the efforts are part of the UAE’s broader strategy to stabilise the region and ensure that those impacted by the conflict receive the assistance they need to survive and rebuild their lives.

Such assurances come at a time when the UAE is increasingly being criticised for its role in Sudan’s conflict, with the Sudanese government and military accusing Abu Dhabi of arming the rival Sudanese paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), thereby fuelling the war and contributing to the RSF’s war crimes.

Despite a report by the United Nations insisting that there is “credible” evidence of the UAE’s arms supplies to the RSF “several times per week” via northern Chad, the Emirati authorities have denied such reports and insisted on its claims to supporting Sudan’s humanitarian situation.

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