By Professor Bill Michael
The UAE is a country of actions, not words. It stands as a model of humanity to be emulated, embodying the human and ethical values upon which it was founded. It plays a central role in promoting dialogue and peace, extending a helping hand for good regardless of race, nationality, or religion. Humanity is the core of its movement on the international stage and at all levels.
While Dr. Anwar Gargash, diplomatic advisor to UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, commented on the dispute between the Emirati and Sudanese delegates at the UN Security Council over the ongoing war in Sudan, he stated on his “X” platform account: “While the UAE seeks to alleviate the suffering of the Sudanese brothers, one party to the conflict insists on creating side disputes, avoiding negotiations, and hindering the delivery of humanitarian aid.” He added, “Our concern is to stop the war and return to the political path… Their concern is to distort our position instead of stopping this war.”
I will not address the remarks made by Ambassador Al-Harith Idris, the representative of General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan’s government at the United Nations, which UAE Ambassador to the UN, Mohammed Issa Hamad Bu Shehab, rightly described as “ridiculous.”
Here, the UAE applies its diplomatic vision based on dialogue and peace, humanitarian work, and attention to people, especially those who are victims of wars and disasters. What matters to it is human dignity. Despite the unjustified attacks from Sudanese leaders, perhaps because it cares about the Sudanese people, stands with them, and works for peace and relief, it has initiated the signing of an agreement with the United Nations World Food Programme to provide emergency food aid to the Sudanese people caught in the war since April 2023.
The agreement was signed in New York, attended by Sultan Al Shamsi, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation, and Matthew Nims, Executive Director of the World Food Programme’s Washington office, with the presence of Lana Zaki Nusseibeh, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Political Affairs.
Under the agreement, the UAE allocated a total of $25 million in aid: $20 million for Sudan and $5 million for South Sudan. Through these aids, the UAE has set a global diplomatic and humanitarian model.
This contribution is part of the UAE’s commitment of 70 million dirhams, announced last April during its participation in the “International Humanitarian Conference for Sudan and Neighboring Countries” dedicated to UN agencies and humanitarian organizations to mitigate the severe humanitarian crisis in Sudan.
This was confirmed by Ambassador Lana Zaki Nusseibeh, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Political Affairs, who said: “Our partnership with the World Food Programme will help vulnerable groups facing the devastating consequences of this war. We cannot allow another famine in Sudan. The long-term effects of famine, especially among children, are incalculable. This is a call to action to stop famine in all its paths.”
With this, the UAE, through its diplomacy and leadership vision, has excelled both humanely and diplomatically, while its adversaries are isolated by hatred, lack of understanding, and vision, as they are merely tools and pawns on the chessboard of the Muslim Brotherhood, which has mastered the game of discord and bloodshed.