UAE calls for humanitarian pause in Sudan war during Ramadan conflict

Photo: AFP

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has called for a temporary pause in the fighting in Sudan during the upcoming Muslim holiday of Ramadan. The UAE made this request as leaders gathered in Ethiopia on Friday to discuss the ongoing war in Sudan.

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The conflict in Sudan has been raging since April 2023, with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) fighting against the Sudanese army. This war has caused the deaths of tens of thousands of people and forced over 12 million people to flee their homes. The UAE has been accused by the United Nations and other groups of supporting the RSF, which has made the situation even more complicated.

In December 2023, the UAE promised the United States that it would not provide weapons to the RSF. This promise came after two U.S. lawmakers tried to block the UAE's purchase of $1.2 billion worth of rockets and missiles. However, those lawmakers later claimed that the UAE had broken its promise and was still helping the Sudanese rebels.

Reem al-Hashimy, the UAE’s minister of state for international cooperation, spoke about the conflict at the annual African Union summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. She said, "This war has lasted too long, caused too many deaths, and brought suffering to so many people." Al-Hashimy explained that the UAE, along with its partners, was calling for a "humanitarian pause" as Ramadan approached in two weeks. The goal of this pause is to deliver much-needed aid to people, especially women and children who are suffering the most.

Al-Hashimy also announced that the UAE would commit an additional $200 million in humanitarian aid to Sudan to help with the crisis.
The war in Sudan has caused severe damage, with the Sudanese army controlling the east and north of the country. The RSF, on the other hand, holds most of the Darfur region, where the United Nations has accused the RSF of blocking aid. Other countries like Egypt, Turkey, Iran, and Russia have also been accused of supporting different sides in the conflict.

The African Union recently described the situation in Sudan as the "worst humanitarian crisis in the world." More than 431,000 children in Sudan were treated for malnutrition last year, highlighting the desperate situation many are facing.