The UAE and the European Union affirm their joint commitment to strengthening partnership in the humanitarian field

Reem Al Hashemi, Minister of State for International Cooperation, met in Brussels with Hajja Habib, European Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management.

During the meeting, the two sides stressed the joint commitment of the UAE and the European Union to deepening bilateral cooperation and their determination to alleviate human suffering around the world.

Al Hashemi stressed the UAE’s consistent approach to providing assistance to all regions, which is based on the values ​​of solidarity and human dignity, and its firm commitment to alleviating suffering.

Al Hashemi highlighted the UAE’s tireless efforts in Ukraine, including delivering humanitarian aid and facilitating ongoing prisoner exchanges. To date, the UAE has been able to carry out 17 exchanges between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Ukraine, bringing the total number of prisoners included in these mediations to 4,641.

During the meeting, Lahbib expressed her appreciation for the assistance provided by the UAE during the winter, including supplying it with energy.

The two sides stressed the pivotal importance of delivering humanitarian aid in a safe and unhindered manner to all conflict areas, and stressed the urgent need to expand humanitarian access to Gaza, where civilians – especially women and children – face tragic humanitarian conditions.

She pointed out that the UAE, which is the largest donor of humanitarian aid in Gaza over the past two years, has contributed to the delivery of more than 2.57 billion US dollars through all available methods, whether by land, air or sea, in addition to providing medical treatment to more than 76,000 Palestinians.

The two sides expressed their deep concern about the tragic civil war in Sudan, which is witnessing a continuous escalation of famine, mass displacement and violence.

Al Hashemi confirmed that the UAE – which is the second country in the world in providing aid to Sudan after the United States – has provided more than 784 million US dollars in humanitarian aid since the outbreak of the civil war.

The two parties stressed the importance of delivering aid without obstacles, and the necessity of immediately stopping the use of aid as a weapon against civilians or for political purposes.

The UAE and the European Union also reaffirmed their joint commitment to strengthening partnership and sustainable cooperation with the aim of protecting civilians and delivering aid to those who need it most.