UAE Raises Alarm Over Famine in Sudan, Praises UNSC’s Focus on Crisis

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has expressed its deepest concern over the worsening humanitarian crisis in Sudan, where severe food insecurity is affecting over 25 million citizens. In particular, the UAE has highlighted the dire situation in North Darfur, where famine has been declared in parts, including the Zamzam camp, which shelters over half a million displaced individuals.

The likelihood of famine in the Abu Shouk and Al Salam camps, along with catastrophic hunger conditions in nine additional states, has prompted the UAE to welcome the recent UN Security Council (UNSC) meeting focused on Sudan. The UAE urges the international community to maintain its attention on this critical situation.

The UAE emphasizes the need for an emergency response to the humanitarian crisis in Sudan, advocating for a ceasefire and the swift delivery of humanitarian aid. Despite the urgency, trucks filled with lifesaving aid remain stuck at the Sudanese border while thousands face starvation in areas such as Zamzam Camp and Northern Darfur.

Condemning the use of starvation as a weapon of war, the UAE calls for the immediate lifting of restrictions on humanitarian access imposed by the Sudanese Armed Forces. Additionally, the UAE demands that the Rapid Support Forces ensure the safe operation of humanitarian organizations and workers without fear of attacks.

The UAE stresses that the escalating crisis requires an urgent scale-up of cross-border and cross-line humanitarian access to save millions of lives. The international community cannot allow the people of Sudan to be used as a political bargaining chip.

Calling on the UNSC to utilize all available tools to address the catastrophic situation in Sudan, the UAE suggests authorizing UN humanitarian agencies to deliver aid across the country through cross-line and cross-border routes if necessary. Such decisive action by the Council can play a pivotal role in coordinating international efforts to provide the necessary aid and halt the famine through neighboring countries.

Reiterating its call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, the UAE urges the warring parties to prioritize human lives over military objectives and allow the safe, rapid, and sustained passage of humanitarian assistance across Sudan. The UAE also emphasizes the importance of good faith engagement in peace talks aimed at achieving a civilian-led transition.

The UAE acknowledges the efforts of the United States in organizing the upcoming ceasefire talks in Geneva, as well as the contributions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Switzerland in co-hosting these discussions. The UAE remains committed to supporting all ongoing diplomatic efforts to reach a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

As a long-standing humanitarian partner in Sudan, the UAE has allocated USD 70 million to address urgent humanitarian needs through UN agencies and other humanitarian organizations. Additionally, the UAE has committed USD 30 million to support Sudanese refugees in neighboring countries.