UAE sends 13 tonnes of food to Chad to boost Sudan relief effort

Humanitarian assistance aims to improve living conditions of Sudanese refugees and the local community

The UAE has sent a further 13 tonnes of food aid to Chad to support continuing relief efforts. Wam

The UAE has sent a plane carrying 13 tonnes of vital food supplies to Chad as part of its continuing humanitarian support for Sudanese refugees and the local community.

The aid is aimed at boosting the living conditions of Sudanese people who have sought shelter in the neighbouring central African country since conflict broke out in their homeland in April. It is also meant to help vulnerable groups in Chad.

Sultan Al Shamsi, Assistant Minister for Development and International Organisations Affairs, said the latest aid flight, which departed on Friday, was in line with the UAE's efforts to support civilians in Sudan and those forced to flee their country.

Key UAE support

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  UAE aid to Sudan arrives at Port Sudan airport. All photos: AFP

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  A plane carrying aid from the UAE lands in the crisis-hit country

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  Workers load aid supplies from the UAE and the World Health Organisation at Abu Dhabi International Airport

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  Aid is offloaded at Port Sudan airport

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  Air strikes and gunfire continue to rock Sudanese capital Khartoum

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  Another UAE plane carrying urgent food supplies landed at Abeche Airport on Chad’s border with Sudan on May 2

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  Fighting shows no signs of abating despite the threat of renewed US sanctions

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  The are concerns the fighting will develop into a protracted conflict

Last week, an Emirati team delivered additional food and shelter to Sudanese refugees in Chad.

A delegation led by the Emirates Red Crescent, the Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation and the Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation, has led the important work.

Twenty tents were also given to Sudanese refugees in the village of Karyari.

The UN estimates that more than 300,000 fled from Darfur to Chad since April 15, when fighting between the army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces broke out in Khartoum.

The UAE recently opened a second foreign aid co-ordination office in Chad. This comes after it set up a field hospital in Amdjarass on July 9 as part of its efforts to bolster the country's health services, which are struggling to treat a huge influx of refugees.

The field hospital, opened under the directives of President Sheikh Mohamed, has treated more than 3,500 patients so far.