United Arab Emirates (UAE) Strongly Condemns Attack on Humanitarian Convoy in North Darfur
The United Arab Emirates has strongly condemned the armed attack on a humanitarian convoy in North Darfur.
In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) strongly condemned all acts of violence against humanitarian personnel who dedicate their lives to serving those in need.
The Ministry underlined that the targeting of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) convoy is a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law, and emphasized that humanitarian personnel must be respected and protected.
Moreover, the Ministry called on the two warring parties - who have shown no regard for the extent of suffering endured by the Sudanese people - to respect their obligations under international law and their commitments under the Jeddah Declaration, and the mechanisms proposed by the Advancing Lifesaving and Peace in Sudan (ALPS) Group. The UAE stressed the need to implement immediate steps to protect civilians and facilitate the rapid and unhindered access of essential humanitarian aid through all available means.
The Ministry underscored the UAE's steadfast and unwavering dedication to support all efforts aimed at reaching a peaceful solution to the ongoing civil war in Sudan, highlighting the importance of an immediate ceasefire and the protection of civilians. The UAE remains committed to supporting all endeavors to address this catastrophic crisis and to work alongside regional and international partners to ensure stability and peace for the people of Sudan.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Arab Emirates, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
an hour ago
- The National
For celebrities, silence on Gaza "genocide" is no longer an option
The tide is turning for Palestine in the West, with prominent figures who previously remained silent now raising their voices against the devastating violence in Gaza. In the past several weeks, three open letters – one from literary figures; one from the global film industry ahead of the Cannes Film Festival; and one from those in UK film, music and beyond – have categorically condemned Israel's continuing assault and called for a ceasefire. British writer Zadie Smith – a year after writing an essay in The New Yorker scolding campus protesters for making some students feel unsafe, and others for 'quibbling over the definition of genocide' – was among the most prominent names to join an open letter signed by 379 other writers from across the UK and Ireland. 'The use of the words 'genocide' or 'acts of genocide' to describe what is happening in Gaza is no longer debated by international legal experts or human rights organisations,' the letter reads. The UK letter, signed by 300 figures from across the entertainment industry including Benedict Cumberbatch, Riz Ahmed and Dua Lipa, was also pointed. It was addressed to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and urged him 'to take immediate action to end the UK's complicity in the horrors in Gaza'. 'Mothers, fathers, babies, grandparents – an entire people left to starve before the world's eyes,' the letter read. 'Two hundred and ninety thousand children are on the brink of death – starved by the Israeli government for more than 70 days.' Actor Steve Coogan, who signed the letter, later took part in reading the names of children killed in Gaza publicly at a vigil in Westminster, London, England, telling Sky News: "They're all children who had lives who had nothing to do with the conflict, and need to be remembered." Coogan added that it was more difficult to speak up in the direct aftermath of October 7, but as the "mass, indiscriminate killing of innocent people" has continued for 20 months, "more and more people are realising that this has stop'. A similar open letter was published just before the start of the Cannes Film Festival earlier in May, signed by Ralph Fiennes and Richard Gere among others. A notable trend has emerged between the lines of these letters. As Coogan pointed out, earlier in the war, many felt they could not speak out, for fear of repercussions. In 2023, some actors who spoke out for Palestine, such as Scream star Melissa Barrera, were dropped from projects after calling Israel's actions in Gaza a "genocide". But now, the public pressure to speak out about Gaza - and often to use the word "genocide" – has moved in the opposite direction far enough to move those who had held back their feelings to speak out. At Cannes, jury president Juliette Binoche initially did not sign the open letter against "genocide", even dismissing press conference questions about her lack of support for the initiative. Then at the opening ceremony that night, Binoche honoured a slain Gazan photojournalist, but did not name Israel specifically or use the word "genocide". But after public backlash, Binoche added her name to the letter the next day. Nobel-prize winner and activist Malala Yousafzai made her most pointed statement yet on Gaza on May 20. She wrote on X: 'It makes me sick to my stomach to see Israel's cruelty and brutality in Gaza … I call on every world leader to put maximum pressure on the Israeli government to end this genocide and protect civilians.' Even Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke, previously criticised for performing in Israel in 2017, issued his first statement against the country's recent actions on Friday. On Instagram, Yorke said he 'remained in shock that his supposed silence was somehow taken as complicity'. He denounced Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the 'horrific blockade of aid to Gaza', adding that the 'excuse of self-defence has long worn thin'. Notably, however, Yorke stopped short of using the word 'genocide' and criticised 'unquestioning' use of the phrase 'free Palestine'. Perhaps of the reason the Overton window has shifted is the sheer number of celebrities who have continued to speak out, regardless of the professional consequences. Rachel Accurso, known better as the massively popular children's entertainer Ms Rachel – who boasts 15 million YouTube subscribers, a Netflix deal and a line of merchandise – is one of the most prominent figures who has remained steadfast in her support for the children of Gaza. Accurso told NPR in May: "I would risk everything, and I will risk my career over and over to stand up for them. It's all about the kids for me." The message is clear. The more prominent figures keep their voices raised, the more even most reticent are now compelled to use their voices for peace. In the arts world, silence when thousands are at risk of starvation is, in the eyes of many, no longer an option.
The National
2 hours ago
- The National
UAE President performs Eid Al Adha prayers at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
President Sheikh Mohamed performed Eid Al Adha prayers at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi on Friday, alongside other UAE leaders. The Eid sermon addressed the value of sincerity, its concept and forms, and was titled Our Eid is Sincerity, state news agency Wam reported. Dr Khalifa Al Dhaheri, chancellor of the Mohamed bin Zayed University for Humanities, delivered the sermon and said a spiritual and national value holds deep relevance during Eid. A person should serve their homeland, family and community, he added. The President was joined at the mosque by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court; Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi; Sheikh Suroor bin Mohammed; Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation; Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior; Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed; and Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs. Other senior officials included Sheikh Omar bin Zayed, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation; Sheikh Khalid bin Zayed, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Zayed Higher Organisation for People of Determination; Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Khalifa, Adviser to the President; Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Development Affairs and Martyrs' Families Affairs; Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Special Affairs; Sheikh Zayed bin Mohamed; Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence; and Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad, Adviser to the President. After the sermon, Sheikh Mohamed was joined by sheikhs to recite Al Fatiha for UAE Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. In a message posted on X, Sheikh Mohamed said: "To my brothers, the Rulers of the Emirates, citizens and residents of the UAE, and Muslims around the world, I wish you a blessed Eid Al Adha and pray for God to grant lasting peace and harmony to all." Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, also issued an Eid message. "We congratulate the Arab and Islamic nation after the blessed Eid Al Adha and we say to the pilgrims of the House of Allah: May God accept your Hajj and make it an accepted Hajj. We ask God to bring this great occasion back to us and to you with blessings, goodness, prosperity and peace." What is Eid Al Adha? Eid Al Adha, which means 'festival of the sacrifice', is the latter of the two Eid holidays celebrated across the Arab world, coming after Eid Al Fitr. Eid Al Adha commemorates the Prophet Ibrahim being asked by God in a dream to sacrifice his son, Ismail, as a test of his faith. As with other religious holidays in the Emirates, it is a time for friends and family to gather, often over meals, and reflect on their lives and faith. It is customary for families who have the means to have a goat or sheep slaughtered and share the meat with relatives and the less fortunate. Employees in the public and private sectors have been granted leave from Thursday, June 5, to Sunday, June 8, to mark the holiday, with work to resume on Monday, June 9.
The National
4 hours ago
- The National
Hamas says ready for 'serious' Gaza ceasefire talks
Hamas said it was ready to enter a new round of talks aimed at bringing about a permanent ceasefire in Gaza where Palestinians continue to face relentless Israeli bombardment and crushing shortages. The group's lead negotiator Khalil Al Hayya made the remarks in a speech marking the start of Eid Al Adha as Gazans observe another religious holiday at war. "We reaffirm that we are ready for a new, serious round of negotiations aimed at reaching a permanent ceasefire agreement," Mr Al Hayya said, adding that the group was still in contact with mediators. Talks aimed at bringing about a new truce have failed to reach a breakthrough since the last brief ceasefire collapsed in March when Israel resumed attacks in Gaza. Israel and Hamas appeared close to an agreement late last month but no progress was made after the US criticised the group's response to its proposal for a deal. The group submitted its response to the Gaza truce plan presented by Washington's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. It neither accepted nor rejected the deal, but Mr Witkoff called the response 'totally unacceptable'. He said it 'only takes us backwards' and called on Hamas to accept the US proposal. Mr Al Hayya said the group had not actually rejected Mr Witkoff's proposal but that it had submitted demands for a guarantee of a permanent ceasefire following any hostage release. He added that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was to blame for the impasse. The US vetoed a UN Security Council resolution on Wednesday demanding an 'immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire' in Gaza and full humanitarian access. Amid attempts to reach a deal and repeated international calls to end the war, Israel has significantly stepped up its campaign in Gaza. On Thursday afternoon, the enclave's civil defence said at least 37 people had been killed in strikes across the Strip. The World Health Organisation warned Gaza's health system was "collapsing" and urged for the protection of the last remaining hospitals. The WHO said the Nasser Medical Complex and Al-Amal Hospital risk becoming "non-functional" because of restrictions on aid and access routes. Israeli authorities have informed Gaza's health ministry that access routes to the two facilities will be blocked, the WHO added. After nearly 20 months of war sparked by Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, Gaza has been turned into one of the world's worst humanitarian crises with civilians enduring Israeli bombardment, mass displacement and looming famine.
