Kuwait and UK Launch Joint Humanitarian Initiative to Aid Sudan and Somalia

July 6, 2025

The Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) and the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) have signed two memoranda of understanding to provide emergency humanitarian assistance to conflict-affected populations in Sudan and Somalia.

In a statement to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) on Sunday, KFAED announced that both countries will contribute a total of $10 million—$5 million from each side—to support UNICEF’s efforts in Sudan. The aid will help sustain access to essential healthcare, nutrition, clean water, sanitation, and child protection services in the war-affected nation.

In addition, the two partners will jointly allocate $5 million—$2.5 million from each—to support the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Somalia. The funding will assist in restoring critical services to marginalized and vulnerable communities.

KFAED Acting Director General Waleed Al-Bahar said the agreements reflect Kuwait’s enduring commitment to international humanitarian efforts and its dedication to building effective global partnerships for development and peace. He emphasized that collaboration with the UK reinforces the exchange of expertise and strengthens Kuwait’s leadership in global humanitarian work.

Mamadou Sow, Head of the ICRC Regional Delegation for the Gulf Cooperation Council, welcomed the partnership, describing it as a strong statement of shared humanitarian responsibility. “This grant is more than just financial support—it represents the united commitment of Kuwait and the UK to assist communities in need, particularly those affected by prolonged instability,” he said.

The memoranda were signed by Kuwait’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and KFAED Chairman, Abdullah Al-Yahya, and the UK’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, David Lammy.

These agreements build on a broader cooperation framework established in 2020 between KFAED and the UK’s former Department for International Development (DFID), aimed at enhancing joint humanitarian responses to support refugees, displaced populations, and communities impacted by conflict and natural disasters worldwide.