The Dubai International Humanitarian Aid &Development Conference & Exhibition – DIHAD – 2006was held from April 10th - 12th 2006 at the DubaiInternational Convention Centre, United Arab Emirates.DIHAD was held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, VicePresident, Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates,Ruler of Dubai and was officially sponsored byMohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Humanitarian &Charity Est. and supported by the United Nations, TheUAE Red Crescent and the Dubai Chamber of Commerceand Industry and Organised by INDEX Conferences &Exhibitions Org. Est.

In the opening ceremony speeches were given by H.E. Ibrahim Bumelha – Vice President of Mohammed BinRashid Al Maktoum Humanitarian and Charity Est. andChairman of the DIHAD Scientific Advisory Board,Khalifa Nasser Al Suwaidi, Chairman of the Board ofDirectors, UAE Red Crescent and H.E. Qadi Saeed AlMurooshid, Director General of DOHMS.

DIHAD was fortunate to welcome Mr. Jan Egeland, UNUnder-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs andEmergency Relief Coordinator, to deliver the keynoteaddress and inaugurate the exhibition. Mr. Egeland’spresent at DIHAD acts as a testament to the continuedgrowth and success of this unique and important event. In his address, Jan Egeland spoke of the need to enter a“multilateral” phase of relief and to promote greatercoordination between the UN and regional donors. Herecounted some of his recent experiences and paidparticular attention to the recently created central globalemergency relief fund.

Mr. Jan Egeland’s address set the tone for the high-levelconference and reminded all present that Dubai is set tobecome the focus of humanitarian efforts in the region.

The Third Edition of DIHAD Confirms Itself as the Biggest Humanitarian Event in the Middle East

H. E. Ibrahim Bumelha andMr. Jan Egeland inaugurating the DIHAD 2006

exhibition.

Mr. Jan Egeland and H.E. Ibrahim Bumelha touring theexhibition, which showcased the latest developments and

most important products in humanitarian aid and assistance.

VIP guests at the opening ceremony

“The Dubai International Humanitarian Aid andDevelopment Conference and Exhibition -- DIHAD asit is now commonly known -- continues to be aunique ‘one and only’ event in the Middle East. I amglad to see that once again DIHAD has managed tobring together and unite such an interesting anddiverse international audience involved indevelopment and humanitarian assistance.”Mr. Jan Egeland addressing delegates at the openingceremony of DIHAD.

The Exhibition

Over 2500 visitors from the humanitarian professionattended DIHAD 2006. These included representativesfrom specialised procurement agencies, UN agencies,and international, local and regional NGOs,, as well ascharity organisations. The registration was sponsored byDubai Aid & Humanitarian City and they also played anactive part in the exhibition with a large stand dedicatedto showcasing their services.

The successful exhibition saw international suppliers ofgoods and services for humanitarian aid delivery convenetogether in Dubai. Over 200 exhibitors from 60 countriestook part in the Exhibition in a hall of 4000 Square Meters.

“We found the exhibition to be well organized as well asbeneficial for our business” John Hunter

ES-KO INTERNATIONAL INC. (Dubai Branch)

The initiative to sponsor the accommodation costs ofprocurement officials from NGOs, UN agencies orcharities was continued for the second year andplayed a significant part in bringing the largestnumber of international procurement officials toDIHAD yet. This initiative helps facilitate the ultimateaim of DIHAD; to provide a unique globalnetworking opportunity for the benefit ofhumanitarian supply and relief, under the umbrella ofone event.

An indication as to what types of goods were procured atDIHAD 2006.

UAE Red Crescent Society, Official Supporter of DIHAD,receiving their award PWC Logistics, co sponsor of the DIHAD Gala Dinner,

receiving their award

Barbara Castek - CEOof Dubai Aid &

Humanitarian City,Sponsor of registration

DIHAD was honoured to welcome Her Royal Highness Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein,

World Food Programme Goodwill Ambassador and wife ofH.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum,

Vice President, Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Rule of Dubai,as a distinguished guest. Her Royal Highness Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein

took an active interest in the exhibition and took the time to speak to the exhibitors about their products and services.

“We participated in DIHAD with our waterpurification and wastewater treatment OEM CorodexIndustries. It has been a very successful show for us.Having worked with NGOs in the past in differentparts of the world made this exhibition more relevant.It provided us the opportunity to meet a number ofNGOs on one platform. We received many inquiriesthrough this event and we are looking forward exhibitin future DIHAD exhibitions” Noor Ul AinMohammad Group Marketing Executive Concorde-Corodex Group

“This was not only the best stand we've ever had, butit was probably the best exhibition we've ever had. Sogood job well done”

Patrick SieyesRegional DirectorVestergaard Frandsen Middle East

The growth of the exhibition clearly highlights agrowing trend in that Dubai is rapidly being seen asthe humanitarian hub of the Middle East. DIHAD isclearly ingrained in this trend and will continue togrow as Dubai’s logistical capabilities expand andbegin to attract more international NGOs, UNagencies and independent charities. As DIHAD is theonly platform that brings together regional, local andinternational organisations it will directly contributeto and benefit from this.

The Conference

The DIHAD 2006 conference saw some of the mostinfluential leaders of the humanitarian domain convene inDubai. Held under the theme ‘Coordination ofInternational Relief Efforts: Recent Experiences andChallenges Ahead’ the program was designed toencourage debate on some of the most pressing issuesfacing the domain currently.

30 distinguishedinternational speakerscontributed to thebeneficial proceedingsand at the end of theConference, agreementwas reached on a seriesof steps the

humanitarian community should take in order to makeadvances on the subjects treated. The conference wasconsidered beneficial, interesting and above allinformative by the delegates.

Topics addressed over the two and a half days included‘The role of the media duringhumanitarian crises’, ‘Responsepreparedness at the local, national andinternational levels’, The role of themilitary during humanitarian crises’,‘Relief items: dispatch triggers andappropriateness’, ‘Effectiveness andtimeliness of humanitarian response’ and‘Sectoral capacities among internationalactors’.

These topics were chosen by careful selection in the lightof recent experiences, to ensure the conference wasbeneficial to those working in the humanitarian field, butalso to discuss future best practices for response and reliefefforts.

The speakers were selected as experts in their particularfields and for the relevant topics. This ensured thesessions were of the highest quality and were gearedtowards facilitating the overall aim of a successful andprogressive conference.

“It was a well organized conference and I extend awarm greeting and congratulations…to the Chairmanand all of you for such a successful conference.”

Staff Brigadier General Obaid Al Ketbi Chief of Logistics Staff - UAE Armed Forces

“The Conference was a great success and I was gladto be part of it.”Donato Kiniger-PassigliStrategic Communication and Crisis ResolutionSpecialist – International Labour Organisation

“Great show”Rose LownEvenproducts Limited

Full details of the declaration, and the full report of conference proceedings, can be found at www.dihad.org

From Left: Abdel-Rhaman Ghandour, Tim Large, Donato Kiniger-Passigli, LyseDoucet & Tarek Shayya

Brigadier Agha M. Umer Farooq

Bob Geldof atDIHAD 2006

DIHAD washonoured towelcome Sir BobGeldof as a guestspeaker on thelast day of thec o n f e r e n c e .During his visit hetoured theexhibition tospeak with theexhibitors aboutthe life savingproducts ondisplay and tomeet some of thepeople that workin the field.

Addressing a crowded room full of humanitarian

professionals Bob Geldof gave an impassioned speech

about his experiences and his decades long commitment

to trying to tackle poverty, invoking images ranging from

Live Aid to the G8 summit and ‘Make Poverty

History’ Campaigns of 2005. Ultimately he spoke

of the importance of tackling the root causes of

poverty and joined the sentiments of many other

organisations present by stating ‘people should

not be dying of hunger’ in 2006. Although at

times controversial his speech raised a standing

ovation from a packed hall and opened up

dialogue between all participants. His speech

only added to the successful and informative feel

of the dynamic conference programme.

Bob Geldof with members of the World FoodProgramme, who were promoting their ‘Fight Hunger:

Walk the World’ initiative.

At the UAE Armed Forces Booth

With TNT and World Food Programme

“You have certainly made DIHAD 06 a bigger andbetter event than last year. Many thanks for yourassistance, insight, support and not least the behindthe seen magic of yours! Super event, superorganization and a great turn out. A job well done”Nedal Juma Product Area Manager VestergaardFrandsen Middle East.

“The show was a success for us this year so I amlooking forward to receiving more information onDIHAD 2007 soon!” Carissa Hurst Marketing DeptSatCom Distribution Ltd

DIHAD 2006 GALA DINNER

The DIHAD Gala Dinner, sponsored by PWC Logisticsand Standard Chartered Bank, was held on Tuesday April11th at Palm Garden. The dinner proved to be a relaxedevening that provided an excellent social opportunity fornetworking.

During the evening awardswere presented by Mr. Abdul Salam Al Madani,President of Index Holding andMr. Gerhard Putman Cramer,Vice Chairman of the DIHADScientific Advisory Board, tothe board members and thesponsors, to express theirappreciation for their continuedand valued support.

“We had more good contacts this yearthan any previous year!”

Daniel Alison Country Director - HopeWorldwide, Afghanistan

“It was a pleasure for me to beinvolved in this important eventand I congratulate you and yourcolleagues for organising such asuccessful conference. I sincerelybelieve the content and outcomeof the conference were reallyuseful.”

Mostafa MohagehFormer Director General ofInternational Affairs, Iranian RedCrescent

“Excellent Networking Opportunities” Lalith Lankatilleke, UN-Habitat

David Proctor, CEO of StandardChartered Bank UAE, co sponsor

of the Gala Dinner

Mr. Abdul Salam Al Madani & Mr. Gerhard Putman-Cramer,

presenting members of the DIHADScientific Advisory Board with their award

The Gala Dinnner was well attended by exhibitors, speakers, procurementofficials and the board members. The Gala Dinner provided and excellent

meeting point for all participants.