UN agency working on improving humanitarian partnership with UAE

The UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, said the organisation is working on improving anticipatory action ahead of crises by fostering partnerships across the world, including with the UAE.

He pinned the UAE as an innovative backer of humanitarian responses worldwide and praised the UAE's efforts in Gaza, where it committed nearly $223 million (AED 819 million) to the "Flash Appeal for the Occupied Palestinian Territory" initiative. He also mentioned a UAE-drafted UN Security Council resolution, adopted in December 2023, which demanded the immediate, safe, and unhindered delivery of large-scale humanitarian assistance directly to Palestinian civilians throughout Gaza.

Fletcher also highlighted the UAE's critical support to the Humanitarian Fund overseen by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, ensuring that those closest to communities in need have the means to respond to crisis.

"The UN is grateful for the UAE's engagement to deliver lifesaving assistance, both in the region and beyond," he stated.

Discussing the role of innovation and AI in supporting global humanitarian needs, Fletcher highlighted the ongoing efforts to leverage AI and innovation to enhance humanitarian response and adapt to future challenges. "In the UAE, we see that innovation and strive to learn from it," he said.