DUBAI, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Sunday decided to airlift core relief items to Sudanese people affected by the recent torrential rains and flash flooding in the country, state news agency WAM reported.

The order by President Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan signals "UAE's determination to extend hand of help to all peoples and countries in need around the world," WAM said.

Much of Sudan including the capital Khartoum was recently hit by unprecedented rain, which has left scores dead and thousands of others displaced, while destroying power grids, houses and inflicting serious damage on public utilities and infrastructure.

The Emirates Red Crescent, the UAE affiliate of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, recently carried out an emergency relief operation in the flood-stricken areas in Sudan, providing the affected communities with essential shelter material and food rations, according to WAM.

The UAE was the world's largest donor of official development aid in 2017, relative to its national income, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

With a total contribution of 19.32 billion dirhams (5.26 billion U.S. dollars) of development aid in 2017, the UAE spent 1.31 percent of its gross national income on foreign development aid, almost twice the global target of 0.7 percent set by the United Nations.

Notably, the UAE donations in 2017 represent a 23.72 percent increase from the year prior, when the Gulf country contributed 15.57 billion dirhams.