Abu dhabi: Under the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the United Arab Emirates has announced a significant pledge of US$550 million to support the United Nations' Global Humanitarian Overview (GHO). This initiative aims to raise US$33 billion by 2026 to aid approximately 135 million people across 23 humanitarian operations worldwide, including programs aimed at assisting refugees and migrants.
According to Emirates News Agency, the focus of the immediate appeal is to protect the lives of up to 87 million people in urgent need of support, requiring US$23 billion in funding. This initiative reaffirms the UAE's commitment to advancing international efforts to save lives and respond to disasters and crises affecting the world's most vulnerable populations.
The UAE's financial support underscores its vital role in promoting multilateral humanitarian action. The nation cooperates closely with UN agencies, including the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), and with relief and development programs on the ground to ensure timely access to aid for those most in need, in line with His Highness's directives emphasizing a rapid and effective response.
Reem bint Ebrahim Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, stated, "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 impacted. This pledge embodies the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and reflects our profound belief in the necessity of international solidarity in responding to urgent humanitarian appeals in an effective and sustainable manner that preserves human dignity and protects lives."
Tom Fletcher, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator at OCHA, welcomed the announcement, noting the importance of the UAE's backing for the 2026 plan. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, emphasized the UAE's support in providing crucial humanitarian health care to millions in need.
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell also commended the UAE's generous support, highlighting its importance in improving the lives of children caught in humanitarian crises. Filippo Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and Cindy McCain, World Food Programme (WFP) Executive Director, echoed these sentiments, appreciating the UAE's strong commitment to humanitarian efforts.
This support builds on the strong strategic partnership between the UAE and the United Nations humanitarian system, reaffirming the UAE's central role in addressing pressing humanitarian challenges, enhancing the international community's ability to protect lives, and supporting stability in crisis-affected areas, in line with His Highness's directives that reinforce the UAE's leading approach to global humanitarian action.