Abu dhabi: The UAE International Aid Agency has officially entered into a cooperation agreement with the Norwegian Refugee Council to offer assistance to refugees in East Africa. This collaboration aims to expand the delivery of humanitarian aid to populations in conflict-affected countries and to support host communities for refugees in Ethiopia, Uganda, and other nations within the region. According to Emirates News Agency, the agreement was signed in the presence of Fatema Khamis Salem Khalfan Al Mazrouei, UAE Ambassador to Norway. The signatories included Rashid Salem Al Shamsi, Executive Director of Logistics Support at the UAE Aid Agency, and Jan Egeland, Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council. Under this agreement, the UAE will provide a grant of US$8 million to support humanitarian assistance for refugees in East Africa. Dr. Al Ameri expressed the UAE's commitment to supporting refugees forcibly displaced from their homes in East Africa due to ongoing conflicts, which constitute some of the world's most severe humanitarian crises. He emphasized that the agreement would help alleviate the suffering of affected populations and ensure the swift and effective delivery of essential humanitarian support. Jan Egeland, on behalf of the Norwegian Refugee Council, expressed gratitude to the UAE for its support, which will enable the expansion of humanitarian efforts to provide essential assistance to refugee families in Ethiopia, Uganda, and other parts of East Africa. He highlighted the significance of UAE's support in overcoming challenges faced by global humanitarian funding, which often prevents millions from accessing necessary aid.