The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has taken a significant step to address the humanitarian crisis in Sudan by signing a pivotal agreement with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). This partnership aims to prevent the imminent risk of famine in the region.
The agreement was formalized in New York at the UAE Mission to the UN, with Sultan Al Shamsi, Assistant Minister for International Development Affairs, signing on behalf of the UAE, and Guangzhou Qu, Director of the FAO Liaison Office in New York, representing the FAO. The signing ceremony was attended by prominent figures including Lana Nusseibeh, Assistant Minister for Political Affairs and Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations.
Under this agreement, the UAE will contribute $5 million to the FAO project titled ‘Mitigating Famine in Sudan – Support to Conflict-Affected Vulnerable Smallholder Farming and Pastoralist Households’. This project, set to run for one year, aims to provide emergency agricultural support to 275,000 vulnerable smallholder farming and pastoralist households, benefiting approximately 1,375,000 individuals.
The initiative will offer critical livelihood support to 155,000 smallholder farmer households, or about 775,000 people, and work to reduce livestock losses by providing vaccinations and deworming treatments for 2 million animals, benefiting around 600,000 individuals. Notably, at least 25 percent of these beneficiaries will be women-headed households.
Lana Nusseibeh emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “We must do everything in our power to halt a famine in Sudan. This contribution aims to achieve that by providing emergency agricultural support to around 1,375,000 people, enhancing the resilience of vulnerable farming and pastoralist communities. The UAE’s focus on female-headed households highlights our commitment to addressing the disproportionate impact of conflict on women and girls. This initiative not only addresses immediate needs but also contributes to sustainable development and long-term stability in Sudan.”
AbdulHakim Elwaer, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for the Near East and North Africa, expressed gratitude for the UAE’s contribution. He noted, “This generous support from the UAE will significantly enhance our efforts to improve food and nutrition security in Sudan. It is crucial to our 2024 Humanitarian Response Plan, which aims to reach 1.8 million households and support 9 million people in Sudan. This contribution brings us closer to making a tangible difference in the lives of those we serve.”
This initiative 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 alleviating the severe humanitarian crisis in Sudan.
