UAE sends urgent aid to Sudan in response to current crisis

According to the Emirates News Agency, this aid comes within the framework of alleviating the humanitarian burden imposed by the current conditions, which have caused severe shortages in many vital services, and the suffering of a wide segment of the population, especially women, children, patients and the elderly due to the lack of necessary food.

Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, said that the UAE continues to work closely with the World Health Organization to ensure the success of the important logistical operation to send urgent medical and food supplies to help address the current crisis in Sudan.

She added, “In parallel with calls on all parties to the current conflict to immediately stop hostilities and calm the situation that is causing untold suffering to the Sudanese people, the UAE is steadfast in its commitment to providing aid and assistance to countries in times of need. The UAE is particularly focused on providing Supporting the most vulnerable groups affected by the situation in Sudan, specifically the sick, children, the elderly and women, who are most at risk from the ongoing and deeply troubling conflict, these relief flights will address the most pressing gaps in the provision of medical and food services.”

Al Hashemi stressed that the deeply-rooted human values ​​of the UAE necessitate continued communication with the world with unwavering sincerity to promote peace, security, safety and stability, not only at the regional level but also throughout the world. She stressed that the UAE, along with its partners and the international community, continues to assist the Sudanese people in times of crisis.

Shipment details

Michael Ryan, Executive Director of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme, said:

• Early this morning, a flight carrying 30 metric tons of health supplies worth US$444,000 left the WHO Global Logistics Center in the UAE en route to Port Sudan in response to the current crisis in Sudan.
• The health supplies include enough to treat injuries, cover emergency surgical supplies, and essential medicines to treat 165,000 people in desperate need of humanitarian assistance after health facilities across the country announced they had run out of essential health supplies and that national medical stocks were no longer available due to the situation. security.
• WHO sent two emergency logisticians aboard the aircraft to ensure that these supplies are immediately distributed to 13 key health facilities to support healthcare workers and provide care to those in need.”
• He added, “The World Health Organization has another 30 tons of supplies to combat malaria and non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure, conditions that can become fatal if left untreated. These supplies and about 23,000 blood bags are being prepared inside the WHO’s global logistics center.” In the International City for Humanitarian Services in Dubai, the World Health Organization is currently exploring all possible ways to deliver these supplies to Sudan as soon as possible in cooperation with the Sudanese Ministry of Health.

response hub

• Ryan pointed out that the WHO Global Logistics Center in the UAE has become the focus of rapid supply response to acute events globally with the support of more than 140 countries across all six WHO geographic regions.

He explained that the center is a lifeline for Member States that suffer from health emergencies resulting from disease outbreaks and disasters such as floods and earthquakes and the impact of conflicts on health systems, noting that the support provided by the United Arab Emirates enables the World Health Organization to be at the forefront of responses to health emergencies. , and provide specialized medical assistance to those in need wherever and whenever needed.

He said, “As part of efforts to strengthen the global architecture for health emergency preparedness, response and resilience, the UAE and the World Health Organization are working side by side to provide supplies to reach the world’s most vulnerable groups at a time when they are most needed.”

Supporting Sudanese health facilities

• Ahmed Al-Mandhari, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, said that the organization continues to coordinate with the Sudanese health authorities to provide basic health supplies through all available pathways, explaining that due to the conflict, hospitals, pharmacies and health care facilities have run out of essential life-saving medicines.
• The arrival of an additional 30 tonnes of surgical and emergency supplies, as well as essential medicines, will enable WHO to support 13 key health facilities and restore health care services to those in need.

Al-Mandhari said: “Our global logistics center in Dubai plays a vital role in ensuring a continuous supply of health commodities. We are grateful for the support provided by the UAE to facilitate our first emergency trip for these urgently needed supplies. Such support highlights our regional vision that health is for all.” And by all.”

It is worth noting that the medical aid provided by the World Health Organization through the UAE amounted to about 55% of the total medical supplies that were provided to Sudan from abroad during the year 2022, which reflects the position of the UAE as a major center for humanitarian response and support in the world.