U.S. Leads $1.5 Billion Global Aid Drive for Sudan as UAE Commits $500 Million
The United States has spearheaded a major international funding initiative to address Sudan’s deepening humanitarian catastrophe, mobilising donor commitments expected to total $1.5 billion, including a significant $500 million pledge from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The funding drive was unveiled at a high-level donors’ conference hosted by Washington, aimed at securing urgent humanitarian assistance while reinvigorating diplomatic efforts to halt Sudan’s nearly two-year-old civil war.
The UAE delegation, led by Minister of State Lana Nusseibeh, described the meeting as especially urgent as Sudan approaches the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, a period when humanitarian needs traditionally intensify. Nusseibeh praised the United States for convening the international community at what she called a “critical moment” for millions of vulnerable Sudanese.
A conflict with staggering human costs
Sudan has been engulfed in war since April 2023, when fighting erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The conflict has unleashed one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises, marked by mass displacement, food insecurity, disease outbreaks and the collapse of basic services.
Accurate casualty figures remain elusive due to restricted access and ongoing hostilities. However, estimates by U.S. and United Nations officials suggest that deaths may range from tens of thousands to more than 150,000, including civilians who have succumbed to starvation, preventable illnesses and the indirect consequences of war.
By late 2025, more than 12 million people had been forced from their homes, turning Sudan into one of the largest displacement emergencies globally and placing immense strain on neighbouring countries and aid systems.
Renewed diplomatic push ahead of Ramadan
Addressing the conference, Nusseibeh warned that more than 30 million Sudanese now require humanitarian assistance. She reiterated the UAE’s call for an immediate ceasefire, emphasising that aid delivery must remain neutral and should never be weaponised or politicised by any party to the conflict.
U.S. Special Envoy for Africa Massad Boulos said Washington was intensifying diplomatic efforts to secure a humanitarian truce ahead of Ramadan, which begins on February 17, though he acknowledged that progress has been limited.
“We would have hoped to achieve peace much, much earlier,” Boulos said. “We’ve amplified our efforts, and yet we haven’t really achieved that much yet in terms of a humanitarian truce.”
Boulos confirmed that the United States expects approximately $1.5 billion in new funding commitments from the conference, including an additional $200 million from Washington itself. While several countries participated in the talks, not all announced firm financial pledges.
Allegations, denials and geopolitical tensions
The conference took place against the backdrop of ongoing controversy surrounding the UAE’s role in Sudan. Khartoum has accused Abu Dhabi of supplying arms to the RSF allegations the UAE strongly denies.
Although U.N. experts and some U.S. lawmakers have previously described the claims as credible, the UAE insists its involvement in Sudan is strictly humanitarian. Emirati officials note that the country has provided more than $4.24 billion in assistance to Sudan over the past decade, including nearly $800 million in humanitarian aid since 2023.
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Strategic interests shape international engagement
U.S. officials say Washington’s engagement is driven by mounting humanitarian concerns, fears of wider regional destabilisation and Sudan’s strategic location near the Red Sea, a vital artery for global trade and energy supplies. The United States has imposed sanctions on individuals linked to the RSF and continues to advocate for a civilian-led political transition.
For the UAE, involvement in Sudan is influenced by broader regional and geostrategic considerations, including Red Sea security, trade route protection and the preservation of stability across the Horn of Africa and the wider Middle East.
Following the donors’ conference, senior officials from the United States, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt convened under a Quad framework to explore ways to expand humanitarian access and identify political pathways to end the conflict. However, Sudan’s warring factions have yet to agree to even a temporary ceasefire, underscoring the scale of the challenge ahead.
