The United Arab Emirates has announced a significant commitment of $15 million to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) aimed at bolstering humanitarian efforts in Sudan and neighboring countries. This announcement came during the pledging conference organized by the UNHCR to launch the Global Humanitarian Appeal for 2026.
His Excellency Jamal Al Musharakh, the UAE’s Permanent Representative to the UN and other international organizations in Geneva, emphasized the nation’s steadfast commitment to supporting refugees and internally displaced persons worldwide.
He highlighted the unprecedented levels of displacement occurring due to conflicts, persecution, and challenges linked to climate change, stressing the importance of enhancing collaborative efforts rooted in solidarity and shared responsibility.
Al Musharakh drew attention to the ongoing humanitarian crises in regions such as South Sudan, Sudan, the Sahel, Myanmar, and Ukraine, which continue to force large numbers of families to flee both within their countries and across borders.
Additionally, he pointed out the escalating internal displacement in areas like the Great Lakes region and the Horn of Africa, where climatic pressures and violence increase humanitarian needs. He underscored the vulnerability of women, children, and other at-risk groups facing escalating protection challenges that necessitate targeted intervention.
His Excellency reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to principled humanitarian assistance through the Emirates Agency for International Cooperation, working closely with the UNHCR and its partners to support host communities and ensure displaced persons and refugees can access essential services. He stated, “Refugees and displaced individuals are dignified people with the right to live in safety and hope.”
He stressed that both predictive funding and equitable burden-sharing are essential for ensuring that humanitarian aid reaches those in need safely, sustainably, and without barriers.
With its pledging of $15 million to the UNHCR, the UAE aims to enhance protection and assistance programs for those affected by the crisis in Sudan and surrounding nations, contributing to long-term stability and resilience.
This funding reflects the UAE’s unwavering commitment to supporting efforts to address this catastrophic crisis, working collaboratively with regional and international partners, especially in Africa, to ensure stability and sustainable development for the brotherly Sudanese people. This commitment demonstrates the deeply rooted values of humanitarian solidarity within the UAE’s leadership and its people.
The UAE continues its humanitarian efforts in support of its Sudanese brethren, having provided humanitarian and relief assistance totaling $784 million since the outbreak of conflict in 2023. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the UAE ranks second after the United States in delivering aid to Sudan since the conflict began, and the total amount of assistance provided by the UAE to the Sudanese people between 2015 and 2025 has exceeded $4.24 billion.
The UNHCR pledging conference is an annual event held at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, where representatives from various countries gather to announce their voluntary contributions to support the UNHCR’s global humanitarian response for the upcoming year.