UAE sends humanitarian relief to Sudanese refugees in South Sudan

December 22, 2023 (DUBAI) – The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has dispatched 100 tons of humanitarian aid to assist Sudanese refugees in South Sudan, as announced by the Emirati foreign ministry.

A press release from Sultan Al Shamsi, the UAE’s Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for International Development Affairs, highlighted that this aid delivery would be facilitated through the World Food Programme.

Al Shamsi emphasized, “This humanitarian initiative is a continuation of the UAE’s sustained efforts, reaching out to various neighbouring countries of Sudan. Our endeavours are geared towards reinforcing the humanitarian response in these communities and offering crucial support to refugees.”

As of December 11, a total of 434,343 individuals had crossed the border from Sudan to South Sudan since April 15. UN OCHA reported that 84 per cent of these arrivals were South Sudanese, 15 per cent were Sudanese refugees, and the remaining percentage comprised individuals of other nationalities.

Among the arrivals, 159,784 people relocated to preferred destinations, with 48 per cent receiving assistance from humanitarian partners. A significant portion, 83 per cent, entered through the Wuthou/Joda point of entry (PoE) and proceeded to Renk.

To address the needs of Sudanese refugees in South Sudan, the UAE established an air bridge between Sudan and Chad for the delivery of humanitarian aid.

However, the Sudanese government accused the UAE of exploiting the air bridge to supply weapons and ammunition to the Rapid Support Forces, led by General Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, resulting in a strain in relations between the UAE and the military-led government in Sudan.

“The UAE’s commitment to Sudan and neighbouring countries underscores its dedication to alleviating suffering and building resilience in the face of adversity,” reiterated the Emirati foreign ministry.

(ST)