Dubai to host the largest humanitarian event in the Middle East

Leading Humanitarians Will Meet in Dubai This Coming April to Discuss Health Impact During Global Crisis

Index Conferences and Exhibitions Organisation Est. – member of Index holding announced today the launch of the 7^th edition of the Dubai International Humanitarian Aid & Development Conference and Exhibition (DIHAD 2010)

The event is to be held under the patronage of H. H Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai, and will get underway from the 4th until the 6th of April 2010 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The announcement came during a press conference held today at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, presided by Mr. Mohammed Zarouni, the Director of the UAE Red Crescent Authority, Mrs. Makiya Al Hajiri, the CEO of the International Humanitarian City
(The platinum Sponsor) and Mr. Abdul Salam Al Madani, Executive Chairman of DIHAD Conference and Exhibition and President of Index Holding.

DIHAD Conference and Exhibition in its 7^th edition is held under the Theme “Global Health Challenges of Tomorrow; Impact & Response” which underscores major health problems that occur during humanitarian challenges, in addition to attracting more attention to the recent disasters such as the Haiti Earthquake, and other ongoing challenges such as Food Crisis and the Global Warming.

Mr. Zarouni said during the press conference that the UAE Red Crescent Authority is one of the first participants and supporters to DIHAD Conference and Exhibition, and we are very delighted how DIHAD Conference and Exhibition managed through the past six years to attract the world’s key humanitarian executives and leaders to Dubai to share their expertise, voice their thoughts and contribute to finding uncover solutions that have a major input in raising the standard of living for the less fortunate communities, building their capabilities and teaching them how to respond quickly during a crisis.

Mr. Zarouni announced during the press conference that there are new activities being introduced during DIHAD 2010, including the participation of the “Student Crescent” for the first time during DIHAD.

“The Student Crescent is a group of volunteer students whom are interested in humanitarian and relief issues and can play an active role in this field through their school activities. In addition, there will be a display of the latest humanitarian and development facilities and products, and the latest international studies and researches, presented via specialised conference sessions and workshops, in a hope to find solutions for all humanitarian issues and specially shedding the light on the silent killers, such as Malaria, Plague and Epidemics.”

Mr. Zarouni also added that “This year, DIHAD Conference and Exhibition is much bigger and more important than any other year, due to the recent disasters and crises, most importantly the late earthquake in Haiti.  The authority and under the guidance of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler Representative – Western Region and the President of the UAE Red Crescent Authority has always provided a helping hand to all of the concerned individuals and authorities that needs assistance”.

He continued that “our participation in DIHAD this year is a vital one, as it gives the Red Crescent Authority the opportunity to highlight its major activities during the past year, mainly in Yemen, Palestine and Haiti. The Red Crescent Authority supported the devastation in Haiti with more than 140 Ton of supplies, including medical supplies, food, blankets, medicines and relief supplies. The Authority also built a field hospital in Haiti.”

“The current situation in Haiti for example, is motivation for us all to meet and discuss the impact and outcomes of this disaster on humanity. In addition, it is necessary to prepare ourselves for the health problems that will arise from this disaster. The DIHAD Conference and Exhibition will create a common ground where prominent specialists in the field of international relief and development will meet to discuss and find solutions for all of these concerns.”

“DIHAD attracts a huge number of specialists in the humanitarian and development field globally and creates the perfect platform for them to engage in new partnerships to purse tangible outcomes that contribute in making a difference to the victims and the poor.” He continued.

Mr. Zarouni finally expressed his gratitude to the effort achieved by the organisers on this successful conference and exhibition, which is considered one of the leading events in development and humanity. He also thanked Mr. Al Madani for his efforts in making DIHAD Conference and Exhibition a great success year after year. DIHAD now is the perfect platform for key decision makers and specialised Humanitarians and humanitarian authorities and associations.

He also stressed on the effort undertaken by the UAE and the Emirate of Dubai in particular in organizing this event, which is concerned with supporting communities and countries affected. He also stated that the conference program includes the participation of prominent specialists from these elite of world leaders familiar with this area.

The Committee also announced the six major sessions that will be held during the three days of the DIHAD Conference and Exhibition. The specialised sessions will tackle major health problems including health trends, Killer diseases and the impact and suggestion for enhanced action, scientific innovations and new technologies, guidelines on capitalizing the low cost health interventions, health priorities in disasters and crisis, the threat reality and business continuity planning of pandemics, and the necessity of collaborating efforts of the public and private sector to reduce maternal and child mortality.

Makiya Al Hajiri, CEO of the International Humanitarian City said “the objectives and vision of DIHAD coincide with those of IHC, with an ultimate goal to make Dubai and the UAE a bridge between the ‘East’ and the ‘West’ and provide humanitarian players with a place to network, learn and operate from. Our sponsorship for the event is recognition of DIHAD’s role in promoting humanitarian efforts”.

“We believe that the collaboration between the two key organizations in the field of humanity is a progress by itself. Both DIHAD and IHC will be able to provide a foundation for exchange of knowledge and experience among key humanitarian stakeholders, provide operational support and supply services related to the humanitarian assistance domain and above all capitalize on the unique and strategic location that Dubai offers which allows a quicker response rate to disaster particular locations”. Stated Makiya

Makiya also said; “we look forward to our participation in DIHAD 2010 and we are definite that we are going to meet and network with local, regional and international humanitarian organizations to create awareness about the resources available in Dubai, and attract new members to set up operations within IHC. We also hope to take advantage of the new trends and information that will be presented at the conference and exhibition”.

In addition, DIHAD 2010 will organise workshops and master classes before and during the conference, and will host top humanitarian leaders from the UN and other humanitarian and relief organisations that will share their expertise and present the lessons learnt through their experience. The pre-conference workshop, which will be presented by UNOCHA, will focus on the Challenges met while delivering humanitarian Aid. Other workshops will focus on; logistics in the provision of health services, water and sanitation and its impact on health, community empowerment tools for health development, and more specialised topics.

More than three hundred exhibitors representing governmental and non governmental organisations, charity organisations, healthcare sector, medical equipment suppliers and temporary hospitals, clothing & protection food manufacturers, emergency food pharmaceuticals and drugs sanitation, hygiene equipment providers, solar energy systems and products, temporary housing and shelter security services, engineering & environmental solutions, additional to traders, manufacturers, and distributors are participating in DIHAD 2010.

Mr. Abdul Salam Al Madani Executive chairman of DIHAD Conference and Exhibition and President of Index Holding said that “DIHAD now in its 7th year works to gather major local, regional and international humanitarian associations together to meet, learn and work hand in hand to support communities and provide all technical and logistical assistance”; he continued.

He also said “DIHAD is proving to be the largest humanitarian event in the Middle East, attended by key decision makers, procurement and logistics officials from leading international, regional & local NGOs, UN Agencies, Governmental Departments and international associations, specialists in the humanitarian industry, humanitarian individuals, researchers and Academics come from all parts of the world to benefit from the conference and the interactive sessions.”

Al Madani also declared that the participation in the exhibition are in the main from Denmark, France, Germany, Gibraltar, India, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Norway, Pakistan, Qatar, Italy, Slovenia, Sudan, Thailand, Taiwan, Turkey, UAE, UK and USA.

DIHAD is organised by Index Conferences and Exhibitions, member of Index Holding and in cooperation with Mohammed Bin Rashid AL Maktoum Humanitarian and Charity Establishment, the United Nations, the UAE Red Crescent Society, Dubai Cares, Organization of Islamic Conference and the International Humanitarian City as platinum sponsor and other international and regional organisations.