High-Level Humanitarian Conference for Sudan Held in Addis Ababa
UAE, Ethiopia, African Union, and IGAD collaborate to address the humanitarian crisis in Sudan.
A high-level humanitarian conference aimed at addressing the pressing humanitarian crisis in Sudan was convened today in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with the cooperation of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, the African Union, and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).
The conference was attended by notable leaders, including Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Kenya's President William Ruto, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
Also present were Musa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, representatives from IGAD, various regional and international states, and key global organizations.
The primary objective of the conference was to galvanize regional and international efforts in response to the dire situation unfolding in Sudan, coinciding with a strong and unified call for a humanitarian ceasefire during the month of Ramadan.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Nahyan Al Nahyan of the UAE emphasized the importance of this conference in renewing commitments towards alleviating the suffering of the Sudanese people, especially as Ramadan approaches.
Esteemed leaders expressed their support for the UAE's call for a humanitarian ceasefire, urging the warring parties to respect the sanctity of Ramadan by implementing a ceasefire to allow for safe and timely delivery of critical humanitarian aid to those in urgent need, particularly children, the elderly, and women.
Sheikh Shakhbut also designated the conference as the first of its kind for Sudan in 2025, indicating it would outline a path for future conferences aimed at providing assistance to Sudanese citizens.
The UAE remains committed to collaborating with regional and international partners, particularly in Africa, to facilitate aid through available means.
The UAE has pledged that there should be no obstacles to humanitarian aid access and has called upon the international community to intensify efforts to ensure necessary support reaches those in need globally, emphasizing that no entity should arbitrarily hinder life-saving assistance.
Since the onset of the conflict, the UAE has provided a total of $600.4 million in humanitarian aid, with an additional $200 million announced at the conference.
Over the past decade, the UAE has contributed $3.5 billion in support for the Sudanese population during times of crisis.
Abiy Ahmed reaffirmed Ethiopia's solidarity with the Sudanese people during these challenging times, highlighting deep-rooted connections between the two nations.
He noted Ethiopia's active support in promoting peace and stability in Sudan over the past six years, including economic assistance through electricity provision.
Moussa Faki expressed concern over the ongoing conflict in Sudan, describing it as a failure of leadership among the warring factions.
He called for an immediate, unconditional, and comprehensive ceasefire to enable a political dialogue aimed at addressing the root causes of the conflict and restoring constitutional order.
Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, Secretary General of IGAD, underscored the urgency of the crisis, emphasizing the need for coordinated actions to alleviate suffering and establish a foundation for long-term recovery in Sudan.
In the concluding statement, the UAE reiterated the significance of respecting the rights of the Sudanese people to safety, food, and basic healthcare, emphasizing that these rights should not be politicized or impeded by bureaucratic processes.
The statement highlighted the critical need for international cooperation to ensure humanitarian aid access and protect humanitarian workers.
The conference serves as a crucial platform for initiating international collaboration and strategies to provide humanitarian support to the Sudanese populace amidst an unfolding crisis.
The conference was attended by notable leaders, including Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Kenya's President William Ruto, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
Also present were Musa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, representatives from IGAD, various regional and international states, and key global organizations.
The primary objective of the conference was to galvanize regional and international efforts in response to the dire situation unfolding in Sudan, coinciding with a strong and unified call for a humanitarian ceasefire during the month of Ramadan.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Nahyan Al Nahyan of the UAE emphasized the importance of this conference in renewing commitments towards alleviating the suffering of the Sudanese people, especially as Ramadan approaches.
Esteemed leaders expressed their support for the UAE's call for a humanitarian ceasefire, urging the warring parties to respect the sanctity of Ramadan by implementing a ceasefire to allow for safe and timely delivery of critical humanitarian aid to those in urgent need, particularly children, the elderly, and women.
Sheikh Shakhbut also designated the conference as the first of its kind for Sudan in 2025, indicating it would outline a path for future conferences aimed at providing assistance to Sudanese citizens.
The UAE remains committed to collaborating with regional and international partners, particularly in Africa, to facilitate aid through available means.
The UAE has pledged that there should be no obstacles to humanitarian aid access and has called upon the international community to intensify efforts to ensure necessary support reaches those in need globally, emphasizing that no entity should arbitrarily hinder life-saving assistance.
Since the onset of the conflict, the UAE has provided a total of $600.4 million in humanitarian aid, with an additional $200 million announced at the conference.
Over the past decade, the UAE has contributed $3.5 billion in support for the Sudanese population during times of crisis.
Abiy Ahmed reaffirmed Ethiopia's solidarity with the Sudanese people during these challenging times, highlighting deep-rooted connections between the two nations.
He noted Ethiopia's active support in promoting peace and stability in Sudan over the past six years, including economic assistance through electricity provision.
Moussa Faki expressed concern over the ongoing conflict in Sudan, describing it as a failure of leadership among the warring factions.
He called for an immediate, unconditional, and comprehensive ceasefire to enable a political dialogue aimed at addressing the root causes of the conflict and restoring constitutional order.
Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, Secretary General of IGAD, underscored the urgency of the crisis, emphasizing the need for coordinated actions to alleviate suffering and establish a foundation for long-term recovery in Sudan.
In the concluding statement, the UAE reiterated the significance of respecting the rights of the Sudanese people to safety, food, and basic healthcare, emphasizing that these rights should not be politicized or impeded by bureaucratic processes.
The statement highlighted the critical need for international cooperation to ensure humanitarian aid access and protect humanitarian workers.
The conference serves as a crucial platform for initiating international collaboration and strategies to provide humanitarian support to the Sudanese populace amidst an unfolding crisis.
