Isidora Cherish (Abu Dhabi)
The United Arab Emirates is the second largest donor of humanitarian aid to Gaza in the Arab world and the world in 2024, and the largest donor of humanitarian aid in the Arab world, and ninth in the world in terms of international humanitarian aid. Financial Monitoring Service (FTS) of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
The UAE has provided $204 million to date, 13% of all humanitarian funding for the occupied Palestinian territories, placing it behind the United States and ahead of prominent donors such as the European Commission. In the UAE’s latest humanitarian aid, the fourth Gaza-bound UAE aid ship arrived at Al-Arish port last Sunday, carrying 5,340 tons of supplies as part of the “Gallant Knight 3” operation, which aims to alleviate the suffering of Palestinians. Gaza Rashid Mubarak Al Mansouri, Secretary General of the Emirates Red Crescent, said: “The UAE continues to fulfill its humanitarian and relief role to assist our Palestinian brothers with all available means to alleviate the dire humanitarian conditions they are facing as a result of ongoing operations.”
The UAE is the largest humanitarian donor in the Arab world and the ninth largest humanitarian donor in the world in 2024, having given more than 256 million dollars, and committed an additional 15 million dollars to various causes.
The United Nations was the main beneficiary of the UAE’s humanitarian contributions – the World Food Program received 55.2% of the more than $141 million in donations, followed by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees “UNRWA” with a further 7.8%. More than 20 million dollars, and the World Health Organization 6.8%, more than 17 million dollars.
79.8% of all donations went to the occupied Palestinian territories, 6.6% to Sudan with $17 million, and 4.5% to Ukraine with more than $11 million, and the rest went to other regions in need.
In terms of sector allocation, food security was the main focus, receiving 45.2% of the total contributions of more than 87 million dollars.
Other major sectors include coordination and support services at 18.4% at over $35 million, emergency shelter at 11.4% at over $21 million, and health at 9.7% at over $18 million, in addition to water. , sanitation, hygiene and logistics sectors.
It is worth noting that the UAE’s approach to foreign aid is deeply rooted in the principles established by the late founder of the country, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, as it reflects the country’s aid strategy in its commitment to world peace, security and prosperity. humanitarian aid reaches millions of people in 140 countries through more than 40 organizations, according to the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.
