DIHAD 2008 gains official support from H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Establishment

The theme of the conference is the humanitarian challenges, past, present and future. H.E Ibrahim Bumelha,Vice President Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Humanitarian and Charity Establishment and Chairman of DIHAD Higher Organizing Committee said in a press conference.

DIHAD 2008 Higher Organizing Committee met today at Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. H.E Ibrahim Bumelha,Vice President Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Humanitarian and Charity Establishment and Chairman of DIHAD Higher Organizing Committee presided over the meeting . Mr. Gerhard Putman Cramer Vice Chairman of DISAB the International Scientific Advisory Board of DIHAD, and Chief of Emergency Services Branch and Deputy Director - United Nations for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Geneva, chaired the meeting.

H.E Ibrahim Bumelha, said "DIHAD has gained the official support of Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Humanitarians and Charity Establishment ,the UAE Red Crescent, and the United Nations specialized humanitarian agencies. The three-day event is scheduled from 8 through 10 April 2008 at the Dubai International Convention Centre.

Members of DIHAD - 2008 Higher Organizing Committee have endorsed the final program presented by the International Scientific Advisory Board DISAB.

This internationally recognized event organized by INDEX Conferences and Exhibitions Organization Est. member of INDEX Holding gained the support of the top local, regional, and international humanitarian organizations and agencies.

DIHAD 2008 would constitute a perfect setting for the creation of new and lasting partnerships and the further expansion of existing ones. International aid coordination in general will greatly benefit from a better mutual knowledge and understanding and by joint discussions over issues of common concern. It will also constitute an ideal platform to agree upon and disseminate key advocacy messages on behalf of the international aid community. Mr. Gerhard J.W.Putman said.

"DIHAD 2008 aims at contributing to the current dialogue on aid and development focusing on the issues currently facing the humanitarian aid and development. In this context, DIHAD 2008 will address four crucial subjects namely, Future crises, Technology innovation, Future challenges and the Emerging trends. Mr. Gerhard J.W.Putman added.

DIHAD 2008 conference program, which will run for three days at Dubai World Trade Center, will cover a wide range of subjects among them Asteroids, pandemics, climate change, nuclear incidents, and resource scarcity. The dynamics and dimensions of humanitarian threats by 2020.Tomorrow's humanitarian challenges from regional perspectives will also be covered.

Water and sanitation issues are among the papers, which examine water and sanitation new dimensions of potential crises and opportunities. New ways to approach one of the most crucial set of operational problems persistently facing the humanitarian community, namely, "watsan".

Groups of humanitarian organizations meet with suppliers and innovators to look for ways to improve this all-important facet of relief, Science, technology and humanitarian policy and new threats and new solutions. Today's hotspots, tomorrow's crises, and the role of prevention and prep .The urban challenge lessons-learned to date.

A special DIHAD side event focusing on Telecommunication innovations and their impacts on humanitarian aspects will also be organized on the first day. Telecommunications as one of the most rapidly growing fields influencing the humanitarian sector that centers on innovations in the telecommunications industry.

From telemedicine to early warning systems, telecommunication innovations are revolutionizing many aspects of humanitarian prevention, preparedness, and response. The conferences will focus on the following subjects:
Planning to meet tomorrow's humanitarian challenges.

The humanitarian roles of non-state actors: advantages and limitations
Principles and practice in tomorrow's world, emerging realities for humanitarian organizations.

Preparing for the future;
Humanitarian actors now and in the future.
The corporate sector as a humanitarian actor: dimensions of commitment, sustainability and innovation - an overview

The Corporation as a humanitarian innovator: a panel of experts
Reflections from the field: working with the corporate sector

To create greater number of lasting business contacts DIHAD 2008 organizers would host as guests' procurement and logistics delegates representing, non-governmental organizations NGOs and UN Agencies.

Procurement officials will have excellent opportunities to interact with a large number of suppliers that allow them to work more effectively, and speed up the process of purchasing goods that will ultimately help humanitarian aid process. The show avails the opportunity to discuss supply issues with the participating products and services suppliers.
A special DIHAD side event dealing with Procurement from the perspective of humanitarian actors: key questions for suppliers over lunch, NGOs, and other humanitarian organizations ask how procurement can be improved and how suppliers can facilitate that process.

The Pre Conference Workshop on the Humanitarian Youth Forum covers a number of issues focusing on the international Humanitarian System its Origins and Main Principles. It explains the coordination of international humanitarian assistance with special emphasis on the role of OCHA's, RC & HC, and cluster coordination. Workshops will highlight the role of humanitarian organizations, international response mechanisms to natural disasters, introduction to International Humanitarian Law and international humanitarian financing and donor coordination.

Sir John Holmes, Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs &Emergency Relief Coordinator, United Nations will be the Key note speaker.

DIHAD 2007 attracted a large number of Exhibitors from over 40 countries in Europe the Americas, Asia, and Pacific, Africa, Middle East and the UAE. Exhibitors included the United Nations Specialized Agencies, non-governmental organizations NGOs, Development Banks, Donors Financing Agencies, Charity Organizations, Civil Defense, Food manufacturers , Emergency Food, Healthcare, Medical Equipment, Temporary Hospitals, Pharmaceuticals and Drugs, Water Purification Systems & Storage Tanks, Sanitation and Hygiene Equipment, Logistics, Telecommunications and IT, Agricultural equipment and Products, public Safety and fire Prevention systems. Eng. Anas Al Madani Vice president INDEX Holding said.

Al Madani added, "DIHAD has successfully established itself as the largest humanitarian event in the Middle East and is fast gaining international recognition. It has maintained steady growth in the number of participants in both the conference and exhibition. DIHAD 2008 would be the largest conference and exhibition in the industry to date, attracting thousands of professionals, and featuring more than 450 companies from 60 countries displaying products and services related to humanitarian aid and development".

"DIHAD Conference and Exhibition is the only established humanitarian aid and development event the Middle East dedicated to this vital and important sector. DIHAD gathers a wide spectrum of international, regional, local expertise and professionals engaged in humanitarian aid and development. Through its interactive and intensive panel sessions, and workshops, the Conference will come out with practical and applicable recommendations for the benefit of the entire humanitarian industry and service sector Mr. Anas Al Madani said.

The First Humanitarian Youth Forum will be organized in conjunction with DIHAD 2008.The Youth Forum is intended to pave the way to the participating Humanitarian Organizations to identify potential volunteers to support their programs. More importantly, the Youth Forum will give the students the chance to learn more about these Humanitarian Organizations in UAE and the potential of conducting their community service hours through these organizations.

The objective of this initiative is to use DIHAD as a platform for NGOs and other humanitarian organisations to reach out to the student community and raise awareness of the activities of these organizations. The First Humanitarian Youth Forum is expected to attract approximately 500 students from schools and universities around the UAE. Mr. Al Madani said.

He added DIHAD tend to attract increasing number of Exhibitors from European countries, the Americas, Asia, and Pacific, Africa, Middle East and the UAE. Exhibitors included the United Nations Specialized Agencies, non-governmental organizations NGOs, Development Banks, Donors Financing Agencies, Charity Organizations, Civil Defense, Food manufacturers , Emergency Food, Healthcare, Medical Equipment, Temporary Hospitals, Pharmaceuticals and Drugs, Water Purification Systems & Storage Tanks, Sanitation and Hygiene Equipment, Logistics, Telecommunications and IT, Agricultural equipment and Products, Public Safety and Fire Prevention Systems. Mr. Al Madani concluded.