World Humanitarian Day 2024: The Lead Role of the UAE in Most of the African Crisis

World Humanitarian Day is a time to commemorate humanitarians, the outstanding exertion and contribution of countries like the UAE toward giving relief to those who need it.

This is the year for Africa’s case, as many of its countries have protracted crises; from conflict to climate-induced disasters, the continent stays as a target for humanitarian assistance. The UAE has been one of the leading global donors, continuously providing vast help across Africa.

In the past years, Africa has been at the center of a number of humanitarian crises. It has been a battle zone for Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, and Chad, which have been struggling with reasons of conflict, food insecurity, displacement crises, and impacts of climate change and political instability. For instance, the protracted conflict in Sudan has brought about major humanitarian challenges: millions remain displaced and are in dire need of urgent humanitarian assistance.

This has created one of the world’s worst food crises in Somalia, with millions suffering because of the long drought. The UAE has been at the helm of response to these catastrophes, offering basic foodstuffs, health services, and infrastructure development aimed at easing suffering.

As noted in the 2020 UAE Foreign Aid Report, the UAE disbursed over AED 10.24 billion (USD 2.79 billion) in foreign assistance worldwide, with most of that figure going to African countries. The UAE continuously maintained a resolute pace in supporting nations despite the exigencies enforced by the pandemic. The UAE now disbursed close to AED 4.81 billion to 44 recipient countries in the African continent.

UAE Grants to Humanitarian Contributions by Country

Sudan: Being Africa’s biggest country, the UAE has to date supported Sudan with a figure well over AED 3.63 billion (USD 989.6 million) in 2020. Such grants have been significant for the many development projects—especially in terms of infrastructure and health services owing to the ongoing conflict, among other economic challenges that the country is facing.

Somalia is another very leading beneficiary of aid from the UAE. This has been through a lot of support, especially on food security, health services, and infrastructure development. UAE contributions have always come in very handy to help change the dynamics the country is facing regarding the needs of the displaced populations and those affected by drought and conflict.

Ethiopia: The country has been suffering from internal conflicts and displacement. However, it has been highly benefited from the UAE’s assistance in the areas of food security and emergency health services. UAE support, therefore, helped alleviate the suffering of the people during this crisis in the Tigray region.

Chad: In Chad, the UAE has contributed humanitarian assistance in the forms of food, medical provisions, and other concerns relating to the displaced populations. Of more salience is this in a country that harbors hundreds of thousands of refugees and IDPs due to regional conflict – .

The UAE’s Wider Humanitarian Efforts

Besides the country-specific contributions, UAE has also been helping with various humanitarian efforts provided across Africa. These include support given to help in education, health, social services, among other emergency response undertakings within natural disaster-stricken regions.

The UAE’s commitment to supporting the most vulnerable is also underlined by its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has seen it donate more than 1,860 tons of medical supplies and personal protection kits to 128 countries worldwide, including many in Africa.

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The Way Forward

The humanitarian imperative is greater than ever on this World Humanitarian Day 2024, to save lives and reduce suffering. However, as Bruno Lemarquis, Humanitarian DRC, explained, humanitarian responses are not solutions to the causes of conflict. Comprehensive political solutions, addressing issues linked to the land and resources of the people and displacement, have a key bearing on durable peace in Africa.

The international community should continue to do all that it can to provide emergency aid not only but also long-lasting solutions that can bring stability and peace in the region. As one, we must act for humanity.