Dubai International Humanitarian Aid & Development Conference & Exhibition inaugurated

The conference and exhibition were inaugurated today by HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussain, Wife of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, and Ruler of Dubai at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Mr. Jean-Marie Fakhouri, Deputy Special Representative to the Secretary General and Humanitarian/Reconstruction Coordinator for Iraq addressed his keynote speech during the inauguration of the conference that and shall be held for 3 consecutive days.

The three day conference will be held under the overarching theme, 'New Perspectives on Prevailing Humanitarian Challenges'. It will address lessons learnt from the response to recent humanitarian crises, focusing on how to defend humanitarian principles and solve new operational challenges, recent trends in the financing of humanitarian operations, and the extraordinary challenges that humanitarian actors are already facing with respect to pandemics.

There will also be two special sessions dedicated to discussing advances on the global disaster risk reduction agenda and introducing new tools in humanitarian information management. The final day of the Conference will feature a speech by UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, Mahmoud Kabil, the famous Egyptian actor.

In a speech delivered on his behalf, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan President of UAE Red Crescent Society affirmed: We are looking forward, through this conference, to establishing more strategic partnerships which meet our humanitarian aspirations, increase our organizations' assets and consolidate cooperation among them for the strengthening of the noble principles and values which guide us. As main partners in this major humanitarian event, we will spare no effort to provide all the means for the achievement of our goals, meeting our aspirations and consolidating relations among our organizations for a better future for mankind and a decent life for the most deprived groups.

H.E. Mr. Ibrahim Bumelha stated on behalf of the Patron of the conference HH Sheikh Mohamed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum: We witnessed last year in many countries natural disasters, conflicts and destructive wars which mobilized international relief agencies and charitable societies to assist the affected populations and bring life back to normal in their countries. This support was made possible thanks to good coordination among international, regional and local relief agencies.

The conferences and scientific sessions started in the first day as Mr. Ivo Freijsen, Head of Regional UN OCHA Office in Dubai chaired a lecture on Effective and Principled Humanitarian Action and Lessons Learnt from Recent Crises and Dr. Bettahar Boudjellal, Director of Legal Department, Arab Red Crescent and Red Cross Organisation spoke about International Humanitarian Law and Shariah Law and Mr. Rashid Khalikov - Director, OCHA New York spoke about the Humanitarian concerns during the Lebanon crisis and Mr. John Ging, Director of UN Operations in Gaza, UNWRA discussed the Occupied Palestinian Territories and the 'ticking bomb'.

Besides, Mr. Brigadier Yahia Raad - The head of the Lebanon Relief Committee and HE Mohammad Khalfan Al Rumaithi, Director of UAE Program to Support & Rebuild Lebanon lectured on the Coordination between national and international actors.

Finally Mr. Mostafa Mohageh, Regional Advisor, West Asia and North Africa discussed The International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) The Risk Reduction Perspective.

Moreover, further subjects shall be discussed through the prominent lecturers and researchers who represent the Gulf, Arab and European countries during the 2nd and 3rd of April 2007 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.