In Sudan and elsewhere, it's time to end the 'the cruel math of aid cuts'

In recent days, as leaders from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda signed a US-brokered peace agreement, and diplomatic engagement continues between India and Pakistan, we have been reminded that even entrenched conflicts can find their way towards resolution when diplomacy and solidarity converge.

Yet as 2025 draws to a close, we confront a harsh global reality. International humanitarian funding has been drastically cut even as the number of displaced and suffering people worldwide surges. The UN’s Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs, Tom Fletcher, has spoken of “the cruel math of aid cuts”, by which growing numbers of innocent people are being left unaided. Donor commitments have been slashed by almost 40 per cent, leaving victims helpless and in despair. Those aren’t just figures but lives and livelihoods that become irrevocably changed forever.

Such grave aid shortfalls point to a deficit in international political will to prevent conflict and address the roots of insecurity. Nowhere is that failure more tragically visible than in Sudan, where a catastrophic civil war has driven the country to the brink of collapse, with civilians unacceptably caught in the crossfire.

In this context, the UAE continues its steadfast commitment to supporting global humanitarian efforts and working with our UN partners to ensure access to aid for those most affected. Under the directives of President Sheikh Mohamed, the UAE has announced a substantial pledge of $550 million reaffirming its unwavering commitment to advancing international efforts to save lives and respond to disasters and crises affecting the most vulnerable populations globally.

Dr Anwar Gargash welcomes Trump's pledge to end Sudan war 01:07

Two and a half years of brutal war in Sudan have unleashed a nightmare: countless civilian lives lost; hospitals, homes and healthcare systems destroyed; the largest food crisis anywhere in the world; and civilians facing an appalling combination of risks including starvation, disease and sexual and gender-based violence.

According to recent humanitarian assessments, more than 30 million people – more than half the country’s population – now require urgent humanitarian or protection assistance.