From Street Iftar to Humanitarian Action Table: A UN-Qatari Meeting in Port Sudan

Port Sudan – Sudanhorizon

The UN Resident Coordinator has shared a traditional Sudanese Iftar- Fast breaking – in Port Sudan with worshipers, at the invitation of the Qatari Embassy, and discussed with the Qatar Red Crescent Society opportunities to enhance humanitarian cooperation and support those affected by the war in Sudan.

It was at the kind invitation of His Excellency Mohammed Ibrahim Al-Sada, Ambassador of the State of Qatar to Sudan, the UN Resident Coordinator in Sudan, Ms. Denise Brown, participated in a Ramadan Iftar held in front of Al-Nour Mosque in the Airport District of Port Sudan. This Iftar was part of the Qatari Embassy’s initiative to distribute traditional Sudanese street Iftar meals.
The occasion provided an opportunity for the Resident Coordinator to meet with the average man in the street Sudanese people who regularly attend the Iftar, at whooping numbers ranging from four to five hundred. This scene reflects the spirit of solidarity and community engagement that characterizes the month of Ramadan in Sudan.

Ms. Denise Brown was accompanied on this visit by Mr. Luca Renda, the UNDP Resident Representative, Mr. Marcus Werne, the Head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Sudan, and several other UN staffers.
The UN delegation’s visit and the communal breakfast were highly praised by the UN representatives, who expressed their appreciation to His Excellency the Ambassador of the State of Qatar for the generous invitation and this unique community experience, which allowed them to learn firsthand about Sudanese cuisine and Ramadan breakfast traditions.

Following the breakfast, the guests proceeded to the Qatar Red Crescent Society headquarters in Port Sudan, where they were warmly welcomed. A meeting was then held, bringing together Ms. Denise Brown and her delegation, His Excellency the Ambassador of the State of Qatar, and members of the Qatar Red Crescent Society in Sudan.

During the meeting, the UN Resident Coordinator debriefed on the activities of the Qatar Red Crescent Society in Sudan since 2000, including its role during the war, the humanitarian sectors in which it operates, and the geographical areas it covers across various Sudanese states. The briefing also addressed available funding opportunities and the Qatar Red Crescent Society’s eligibility to receive funding from UN agencies.

For her part, Ms. Denise Brown expressed her pleasure at the meeting and thanked the State of Qatar for its role in Sudan and for its diplomatic mission’s focus on humanitarian work and providing assistance during this period. She also commended Qatar’s continued humanitarian support despite the challenging circumstances in the region, noting that she had followed up on the launch of the shelter tents sent to war-affected Sudanese states, which took place two days earlier despite the security tensions in the Gulf region.
She also noted the arrival of shipments of medicines from Qatar at Port Sudan this week.

The UN Resident Coordinator expressed her desire to strengthen cooperation with Qatari institutions and to work in effective partnerships with the State of Qatar to implement impactful humanitarian projects that contribute to supporting communities affected by the war, particularly in remote states.

For his part, the Ambassador of the State of Qatar expressed his gratitude to the UN Resident Coordinator for accepting the invitation and sharing the Iftar meal with those fasting, in the street.
He affirmed that Qatari aid to Sudan continues in accordance with the pledges made by the leadership of the State of Qatar, despite the security situation in the region.

The ambassador noted that a convoy of refrigerated aid trucks departed from the State of Qatar three days prior, during a period of heightened tensions, traveling overland through the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the port of Jeddah. He explained that the choice of the overland route was made by the Qatari leadership to ensure the swift delivery of medicines and medical supplies without any delay.

Dr. Salah Daak, Head of the Qatar Red Crescent Society’s office in Sudan, expressed his gratitude to the Ambassador of the State of Qatar, the UN Resident Coordinator, and the accompanying delegation for their visit and their interest in learning about the Qatar Red Crescent Society’s projects, humanitarian issues, and future funding opportunities for Qatari institutions in Sudan.

Dr. Daak confirmed that the Qatar Red Crescent Society had met the evaluation criteria of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the United Nations system, and was included among the organizations eligible to receive grants and projects funded by the United Nations in Sudan. It was also agreed to hold further meetings in the coming period to continue coordination and cooperation.
At the conclusion of the meeting, His Excellency the Ambassador of the State of Qatar expressed his thanks and appreciation to all those who participated in the encounter and for those who organized this program, which he described as successful, emphasizing that it represents a model of community engagement and humanitarian outreach to the Sudanese people during this holy month of Ramadan.

Shortlink: https://sudanhorizon.com/?p=11894