UAE and UN health agency sign a host country agreement to solidify partnership

The UAE and the UN health agency have signed a host country agreement. This signifies a milestone in relations, further contributing to a solid long-term strategic partnership. The continued UAE’s support is going to reinforce the agency’s global efforts.

The UAE has also contributed $3 million in support of the UN health agency’s operation in Chad to address the different requirements of Sudanese refugees. This amount is going to be used for enhancing the people’s access to quality maternal and child health services.

UAE committed to addressing global health challenges

Reem al-Hashimy, UAE’s Minister of State for International Cooperation, and Dr Michael Ryan, the agency’s Deputy Director General and Executive Director of Health Emergencies Programme, signed the notable agreements.

The UN health agency has been present in the UAE since 2015. Its operations from the Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office Hub in Dubai have expanded 10-fold in recent years, signifying the durable logical infrastructure in place and the strategic location of the UAE.

But there has also been an unfortunate increase in demand to address health emergencies across the globe. In the recent past, the value of the agency’s health supplies transiting the hub has increased 400% in response to different health emergencies.

Reem al-Hashimy highlighted the UAE’s commitment to addressing global health challenges and serving communities susceptible to different problems. The agreements signed recently reflect the country’s focus on addressing humanitarian needs, she added.

UAE’s notable humanitarian efforts across the globe

The UN health agency’s director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, described the UAE as an important and strategic partner, noting the instrumental role the Gulf state has been playing in serving vulnerable communities in different countries.

He also expressed gratefulness for the UAE’s continued support to the agency’s humanitarian response operations in support of Sudanese refugees in neighbouring Chad. The conflict in Sudan has triggered a major crisis in the country, leading to displacements.