The United Arab Emirates has signed an agreement with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) to provide seven million dollars in emergency food aid to crisis-hit Sudan, the Emirati news agency WAM reported.
Of these funds, $6 million will go to Sudan and $1 million to South Sudan. It is noted that 17.7 million people in Sudan and 7.1 million people in South Sudan suffer from food insecurity.
Earlier, the UAE Foreign Ministry said that the Middle Eastern country has already funded 70% of the $100 million it pledged at an international conference in April to support Sudan and neighboring countries.
In addition to the World Food Program, the funds will be allocated to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the World Health Organization (WHO), the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Fierce fighting has been raging in Sudan between the rebel Rapid Reaction Force (RRF) and the regular army since April 15, 2023. According to the UN, over 8.2 million people in Sudan have fled their homes because of the fighting, including about 1.7 million who have taken refuge in neighboring countries.
Moreover, the country's health ministry said that more than 13,000 people have died and more than 30,000 have been injured during the ongoing conflict.