Sudanese refugees in Northern Bahr El Ghazal. April 30, 2023. (Courtesy).

The United Arab Emirates has signed an agreement with the World Food Program (WFP) to provide emergency food assistance to war-affected populations in Sudan and South Sudan, Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported.

Since the start of conflict in Sudan in April 2023, nearly eight million people, half of them children, have fled Sudan, 560,000 of which have fled to South Sudan, says the UN refugee agency.

The agreement, formalized between the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and WFP commits $20 million for Sudan and $5 million for South Sudan.

The assistance will benefit 17.7 million people in Sudan and 7.1 million in South Sudan facing acute food insecurity in including refugees, internally displaced persons, host communities and returnees.

The agreement was signed by Sultan Al Shamsi, Assistant Minister for International Development Affairs, and Matthew Nims, WFP Director of Washington Office, at a special ceremony at the UAE Mission to the UN in New York.

“WFP welcomes all pledges towards our lifesaving food operations in Sudan. With this contribution, we will be able to assist vulnerable people who are at risk of sliding into famine,” said Cindy McCain, WFP Executive Director, according to WAM.

This contribution is said to be part of UAE’s $100 million commitment announced in April at the International Humanitarian Conference for Sudan and Neighbouring Countries to UN agencies and humanitarian organizations to alleviate the severe humanitarian crisis in Sudan.

“With widespread hunger in Sudan and neighbouring countries, our partnership with WFP will assist those most vulnerable facing the devastating ramifications of this war, said Lana Zaki Nusseibeh, UAE’s Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Political Affairs.

“We cannot allow another famine to unfold in Sudan. The long-term impacts of famine, particularly on children, are incalculable. This is a call to action to halt famine in its tracks.”

The contribution comes as the Gulf nation is accused of funding the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces currently involved in deadly conflict with the army.

On June 18, the representatives of Sudan and UAE clashed at the U.N. Security Council over Khartoum’s accusations that Abu Dhabi is providing arms and other support to the RSF – an accusation first made by a top Sudanese general in November 2023.

Abu Dhabi has rejected accusations from Sudan that it has been financing the paramilitary group – maintaining that it does not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries and remains committed to a peaceful resolution.