Jan Egeland and Sir Bob Geldof to address delegates attending Dubai humanitarian aid event

DIHAD 2006 - a high level conference involving humanitarian aid professionals and an exhibition of goods and services for aid and development - is held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, and Ruler of Dubai, sponsored by Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Humanitarian and Charity Est., and officially supported by the UAE Red Crescent Society, the United Nations and the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Mr. Abdul Salam Al Madani, Index's Managing Director, said:

"We are delighted Mr. Egeland and Sir Bob will join us at DIHAD, and I am sure their presence will help focus minds on the importance of greater cooperation to improve emergency response and help alleviate poverty, especially across the Middle East, North Africa and Asia."

The two day conference 'Coordination of International Relief Efforts: Recent Experiences & Challenges Ahead' focuses on pressing international humanitarian aid and development issues, including the media's role during humanitarian crises, the effectiveness and timeliness of response, dispatch of appropriate relief items, response preparedness, management of capacity gaps/overlaps, and the role of military and civil defence organisations.

The Conference programme and speakers list - which includes Dr. David Nabarro, Senior United Nations System Coordinator for Avian and Human Influenza - are available at www.dihad.org.

DIHAD 2006, launched in 2004 as the Middle East's first ever humanitarian aid and development event, will produce a set of recommendations - the DIHAD 2006 declaration - to benefit future strategies.