NAIROBI, Kenya- In a move to address the escalating humanitarian crisis in Sudan, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has committed $5 million (Ksh 640 million) to help stave off the imminent risk of famine.
This generous funding will be channeled through the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations to provide critical support to vulnerable communities.
The UAE’s contribution aims to deliver emergency crop, livestock, and veterinary assistance to 275,000 smallholder farmer and pastoralist households, ultimately benefiting around 1,375,000 individuals.
Lana Nusseibeh, UAE Assistant Minister for Political Affairs and Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “We must do everything in our power to halt a famine in Sudan. Providing emergency agricultural support can mitigate this risk and enhance the resilience of vulnerable farming and pastoralist communities.”
Through a year-long program, the FAO plans to extend emergency livelihood support to 155,000 smallholder farmer households, approximately 775,000 individuals.
This initiative aligns with the FAO Humanitarian Response Plan 2024, which aims to reach 1.8 million households and ensure direct livelihoods for 9 million people in Sudan.
AbdulHakim Elwaer, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for the Near East and North Africa, highlighted the program’s significance, stating, “This support is crucial to our objectives and contributes to food production for the wider population.”
A key aspect of the project is reducing livestock losses through prophylactic vaccination and deworming, targeting 2 million heads of animals and benefiting approximately 600,000 individuals.
At least 25pc of the beneficiaries are women-headed households.
Nusseibeh pointed out, “Women and girls face a disproportionate impact of the grave threat that conflict poses, which is why the UAE is ensuring that this contribution includes a specific focus on female-headed households.”
The UAE’s proactive approach exemplifies how targeted aid and international collaboration can address urgent needs and foster sustainable development.
