The United Arab Emirates participated in a joint launch event held by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Geneva.

The event unveiled the Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan for Sudan for 2025, alongside the Regional Refugee Response Plan for Sudan.

Tom Fletcher, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, addressed the severe crisis in Sudan, highlighting that two years of conflict have led to one of the world's largest displacement crises.

In response, the United Nations has prepared the largest humanitarian appeal for Sudan, totaling $6 billion in funding.

Fletcher emphasized the initial success in Addis Ababa, which served as a significant precursor to the Geneva meeting, stating that the unprecedented scale and severity of this crisis necessitate an extraordinary response.

Filippo Grandi, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, expressed gratitude for the financial commitments made during the conference, noting the importance of translating these pledges into tangible assistance.

During the joint launch of the Sudan Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, Shehad Mater, Deputy Permanent Representative and Chargé d'Affaires of the UAE Mission to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva, underscored the pivotal nature of this moment.

This launch occurred on the sidelines of the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, where the UAE, in collaboration with the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, the African Union, and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), organized a high-level humanitarian conference focused on the people of Sudan.

Mater reiterated that the collective message from the conference in Addis Ababa was a strong and unified call for a humanitarian ceasefire during the Ramadan period, depicting it as a crucial opportunity for peace and, crucially, the delivery of life-saving humanitarian aid to all Sudanese in need.

The UAE announced during the high-level humanitarian conference that it would provide an additional $200 million in humanitarian assistance, reflecting the UAE's enduring humanitarian values and support for the Sudanese people amid the escalating humanitarian crisis.

The additional aid signifies the UAE's steadfast commitment to supporting the Sudanese population, having allocated $600.4 million for humanitarian response efforts since the onset of the crisis (including $200 million announced during the Addis Ababa conference and $400 million over the prior 22 months).

Over the past decade, the UAE has contributed $3.5 billion in humanitarian assistance to the Sudanese people, affirming its dedication to aiding those in need during times of crisis.

Mater concluded her remarks by emphasizing the necessity of seizing the opportunity to bolster international efforts towards achieving a unified and decisive humanitarian response, noting that the situation in Sudan can no longer tolerate delays.

The UAE reiterated its call to all parties involved to ensure safe, sustainable, and unimpeded access for humanitarian assistance.

This, the UAE stated, is not merely a humanitarian plea but an obligation under international humanitarian law, asserting that hindering access to aid is unacceptable.