What will the future of humanitarian aid look like?

Today is World Humanitarian Day, a moment to reflect on the troubling reality that although the work of saving lives has become more sophisticated, many of the challenges faced by vulnerable populations are as old as humanity itself.

The brutal and protracted war on Gaza, which has claimed more than 40,000 lives at least so far, resembles a conflict from the last century. With such scorched-earth warfare, the accompanying dangers for civilians are similar to those faced by besieged communities throughout history – death, injury, poverty, malnutrition and disease. Such devastation can set entire societies back; the Palestinian Health Ministry in Ramallah has just confirmed Gaza’s first polio case in 25 years.

It is not just armed conflicts that present humanitarian challenges – natural disasters continue to plague humanity. Last week, a 4.8 magnitude earthquake struck central Syria, frightening communities already scarred by last year’s deadly tremors that claimed thousands of lives. In many parts of the world, similar calamities are now being compounded by the effects of climate change, as extreme weather worsens an increasing number of floods, droughts and storms.

The interlinked and complex nature of these problems begs the question: what will humanitarian work look like in the future, and what is being done now to make it more effective? Some answers to these questions can be found in the UAE’s commitment to foreign aid and development, something the OECD says the country has undertaken since its formation in 1971.

It is a commitment delivered by humanitarians and aid workers often operating in dangerous and difficult conditions. Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed, the UAE’s Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Development and Fallen Heroes' Affairs and Chairman of the International Humanitarian and Philanthropic Council, paid tribute to such workers, commending their “inspiring efforts … in spreading hope among societies suffering from crises”, state news agency Wam reported.

The Emirates has committed significant amounts of resources to help other countries with acute emergencies and more long-term aid – according to the latest official figures, in 2022 total UAE funding for international aid was $3.45 billion, a 12 per cent increase on the previous year. Recently, its diplomatic influence was brought to bear by helping to reach a global consensus on setting up a loss and damage fund at the Cop28 climate summit in Dubai.

The UAE’s convening power and strong international positioning is central to its success in tackling global issues of consequence for people around the world. By using its expertise in other areas, the country is able to come up with innovative answers to pressing problems.

Furthermore, the UAE’s embrace of AI and other advanced digital technologies is informing its approach to aid. One example was in September last year when, during a UN Security Council open debate, the Emirates announced plans to establish a digital response platform that will use AI, machine learning and geospatial tools to better co-ordinate and deliver aid. Indeed, the country’s humanitarian contributions during the Covid-19 pandemic, its long-running polio vaccination campaign in Pakistan and the provision of vital medical aid to Gazan civilians all work better with advanced technology.

The world’s humanitarian efforts must continue to be collective, with innovative and dynamic countries such as the UAE of vital importance. The challenges keep coming. Traditional donor fatigue, a lack of diplomatic will to tackle crises effectively, as well as political obstruction – as seen in the efforts to undermine the UN agency for Palestinian refugees – make the task of helping people an even more difficult one. In addition, the UN has said that last year was the deadliest on record for aid workers, with 2024 shaping up to be even worse.

The key to helping the estimated 186.5 million people in need across the world has to be working smarter. Instead of overly focusing on emergency aid, strategies for women’s empowerment, renewable energy, sustainable agriculture and eradicating disease will help to promote stability in the long term. The UAE has been leading from the front, but as global challenges become more numerous and complicated, innovation and forward thinking must intensify and continue.