UN lauds UAE logistical support to airlift emergency aid to Ethiopian refugees in Sudan

The UN refugee Agency has commended the UAE for supporting humanitarian efforts to airlift emergency aid and supplies to Ethiopian refugees in Sudan.

Spokesperson of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR, Babar Baloch, told a news briefing in Geneva that a plane carrying 32 tons of UNHCR emergency aid from global stockpile in Dubai landed in Khartoum on Friday. Another airlift is scheduled to leave Dubai on Monday with 100 tons of additional relief items. UNHCR’s global stockpile is hosted by the International Humanitarian City in Dubai, IHC. ''In total, we plan to send four airlifts,'' he added.

The cargo included 5,000 blankets, 4,500 solar lamps, 2,900 mosquito nets, 200 plastic sheets and 200 plastic rolls. A second airlift will carry 1,275 family tents and 10 prefabricated warehouses. This aid will meet the immediate shelter needs of more than 16,000 people.

''The transportation costs of both flights were generously covered by the Government of United Arab Emirates,'' he said.

The United Arab Emirates announced last week allocating AED 18.4 million (US$5.0 million) in support of the recently arrived Ethiopian refugees in Sudan.

Since the start of fighting in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region in early November, he noted, more than 43,000 refugees have crossed into Sudan seeking protection and shelter, adding that the UNHCR needs more funds and Sudan needs international support urgently to help refugees almost half of whom are children.

Inside Tigray region concerns are growing for the safety of civilians in the conflict, particularly in its capital of Mekele, home to more than 500,000 people.

UNHCR remains concerned as the humanitarian situation continues to worsen in Tigray, including for those displaced and for some 96,000 Eritrean refugees who will run out of food as soon as Monday if supplies cannot reach them.''We join other humanitarian agencies to reiterate our call for the protection of civilians and immediate humanitarian access in order to resume the delivery of life sustaining assistance, the UN agency said.