H.E. Sheikh Shakhboot leads delegation to South Sudan camp

H.E. Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, Minister of State of the UAE, led a delegation alongside South Sudanese officials to Gorom Refugee Camp in Juba, demonstrating solidarity with displaced communities who fled conflict in neighboring countries, including Sudanese refugees.

The visit also included delegations from regional organisations, humanitarian agencies, ambassadors, and members of the diplomatic corps in South Sudan, where they discussed strengthening humanitarian responses and long-term solutions for refugees.

Participants took part in the distribution of food packages to refugees in the camp.

The visit coincided with Zayed Humanitarian Day, celebrated by the UAE on the 19th of Ramadan of each year, which reflects the country’s values of compassion, coexistence, and tolerance. 

On March 7, the UAE inaugurated Madhol Field Hospital in the Northern Bahr el Ghazal state of South Sudan, which has a 100-bed capacity, and several specialised clinics to treat approximately two million people from the host community, South Sudanese returning from Sudan, and Sudanese refugees.

The hospital aims to address urgent healthcare requirements, especially in areas with limited healthcare services. This hospital is the third healthcare facility built by the UAE to provide medical services to Sudanese refugees in neighboring countries. The facility follows the successful establishment of two field hospitals in Amdjarass and Abéché, Chad that has provided medical care to approximately 90,000 people.

He said, "Since its founding, humanitarian aid and the protection of civilians, particularly the sick, children, the elderly, and women, have served as the foundation of the UAE's policy and approach that prioritises civilians’ requirements and fulfills their needs."

He added, “The UAE announced an additional $200 million (AED 734 million) of aid during the High-Level Humanitarian Conference for the People of Sudan, held in Addis Ababa. The conference, the first to be held for Sudan this year, will serve as a catalyst for future conferences that are scheduled to assist the people of Sudan. The pledge made during the conference was not merely an announcement but rather a call to the international community for action and participation.”

He further highlighted that since the onset of the crisis, the UAE has provided $600.4 million (AED 2.2 trillion) to support a humanitarian response. Furthermore, the UAE has provided $3.5 billion (AED 12.8 billion) of humanitarian aid over the past 10 years, dispatched 160 aircraft carrying relief aid, and distributed 12,000 tonnes of food, medical, and relief supplies to the people of Sudan.

The Deputy Minister of Interior of South Sudan, Mangar Buong Aluong, affirmed the UAE’s unwavering commitment to supporting the Sudanese people. The humanitarian high-level visit to Gorom refugee camp in Juba demonstrates the UAE’s keenness to strengthen international cooperation and collaborations to enhance the humanitarian response for refugees and displaced persons, while meeting their essential needs.