The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced a $30 million emergency humanitarian aid package for civilians affected by the worsening conflict in El Obeid, North Kordofan, calling for greater international action to protect civilians and ensure unrestricted humanitarian access across Sudan.

The emergency funding, approved by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, will be delivered through the UAE Aid Agency to support people affected by the escalating humanitarian crisis in El Obeid and surrounding communities.

In a statement on Sunday, the UAE said the intervention was prompted by deteriorating humanitarian conditions that have left civilians and displaced persons facing severe shortages of food, healthcare, safe drinking water and shelter.

The government urged the international community to prioritise civilian protection and facilitate the delivery of life-saving assistance.

It also called on all parties to the conflict to comply with international humanitarian law by avoiding attacks on populated areas and guaranteeing the safe, rapid and unhindered movement of humanitarian aid.

UAE Minister of State and member of the International Humanitarian and Philanthropic Council, Sheikh Shakhboot Al Nahyan, said the intervention reflected the country’s commitment to placing humanitarian concerns at the forefront of its foreign assistance.

“This urgent response reflects the UAE leadership’s steadfast belief that people remain at the heart of the UAE’s humanitarian efforts.

“At this critical stage, the focus must remain on protecting civilians, enabling safe humanitarian corridors, and responding to the urgent needs of displaced people and the most vulnerable groups, particularly the sick, children, the elderly and women,” he said.

Shakhboot added that the UAE would continue working with humanitarian organisations and international partners to ease civilian suffering and strengthen relief operations.

“We will continue to stand by the brotherly Sudanese people and work with humanitarian and international partners to alleviate civilian suffering, strengthen the humanitarian response, and help prevent further deterioration on the ground,” he said.

He also cautioned against politicising humanitarian assistance.

“The suffering of civilians must not be politicised, and international efforts must remain focused on saving lives and supporting accountability for violations through independent, professional and impartial mechanisms,” he added.

According to the UAE, it has provided about $800 million in humanitarian assistance to Sudan since the conflict began, supporting refugees, internally displaced persons and communities affected by the fighting.

Chairman of the UAE Aid Agency, Dr Tareq Al Ameri, said the latest intervention forms part of the country’s broader commitments to United Nations-led humanitarian response plans.

“The humanitarian assistance forms part of the UAE’s pledges to support humanitarian response plans in cooperation with the United Nations and its partners.

“It will help provide food, healthcare, shelter and support for refugees, displaced persons and the most vulnerable groups,” he said.

The assistance will be channelled through the United Nations and its humanitarian partners for distribution within Sudan and neighbouring countries hosting people displaced by the conflict.

The UAE reiterated that the Sudan crisis cannot be resolved through military means, urging renewed support for a civilian-led political process to restore peace, preserve Sudan’s unity and improve the welfare of its people.