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UAE Calls for Humanitarian Pause in Sudan War During Ramadan
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has called for a humanitarian pause in the ongoing conflict in Sudan during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. This plea came as international leaders gathered in Ethiopia on Friday to address the escalating crisis.
Since April 2023, Sudan has been embroiled in a brutal war between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), resulting in tens of thousands of deaths and the displacement of more than 12 million people. The UAE has faced accusations from the United Nations and others of supporting the RSF, which continues to battle the regular army for control.
In December 2023, the UAE made a public commitment to the United States not to supply arms to the RSF, after two U.S. lawmakers sought to block the UAE’s purchase of $1.2 billion worth of advanced rockets and long-range missiles. However, those lawmakers later accused the UAE of violating its promise, claiming that it continued to provide arms to Sudanese rebels.
Reem al-Hashimy, the UAE's Minister of State for International Cooperation, expressed deep concern about the ongoing violence. "This war has gone on for far too long, claiming countless lives and causing immense suffering," she told AFP on the sidelines of the African Union summit in Addis Ababa.
Al-Hashimy explained that the UAE, in collaboration with its international partners, is calling for a "humanitarian pause" ahead of Ramadan, which begins in just two weeks. "We hope this pause will enable us to deliver vital aid to those in desperate need, especially women and children who are enduring unprecedented hardship," she said.
In addition to the ceasefire call, the UAE announced a pledge of an additional $200 million in humanitarian assistance for Sudan, aiming to alleviate the crisis exacerbated by the ongoing war.
Other global powers, including Egypt, Turkey, Iran, and Russia, have also been implicated in supporting various factions within the conflict. The Sudanese army controls the eastern and northern regions, while the RSF maintains control of much of Darfur, a region severely impacted by the war. The UN recently accused the RSF of obstructing aid delivery in Darfur, further worsening the dire humanitarian situation.
On Tuesday, the African Union described the conflict as the "worst humanitarian crisis in the world," with more than 431,000 children treated for malnutrition in 2024 alone.