DIHAD International Scientific Advisory Board (DISAB) is always keen to follow up on
Humanitarian assistance and response to the humanitarian Syrian crisis, which was one of the main topics in its sessions previously this year. DIHAD in its 11th edition that was held in 24th of March in Dubai World Trade Center, hosted special sessions about the humanitarian crises in Syria and the necessary in-country assistance requirements and the assistance required from the neighboring countries.
DIHAD Conference & Exhibition hosted a large number of local and international figures and witnessed participation from important institutions in the field of relief and development; On top of these figures was HE Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, Minister of International Cooperation and Development in the UAE, HE Ibrahim Bumelha, Cultural and Humanitarian Advisor of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President of Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Humanitarian and Charity Est. and Chairman of the Higher Committee DIHAD, President of DISAB, HE Dr. Hamdan Al Mazroui, Chairman of the UAE Red Crescent Authority, and HE Ms. Ertharin Cousin, Executive Director of World Food Programme. They all stressed on the importance of putting great efforts on providing various forms of support to the Syrian humanitarian crises.
In this context, the United Arab Emirates had allocated last month an amount of 44 million dirhams, in response to the UN plan for the humanitarian Syrian crisis at home and abroad, of which 18.4 million dirhams was granted to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), to help refugees in Al Zaatari and Al Azraq Refugee Camps in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The UAE had also granted the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), 25.7 million dirhams to provide feeding and healthcare programmes for children below 5 years of age, pregnant and breast feeding women inside Syria.
This amount was part of the value of the second commitment announced by the UAE during the Kuwait Second International Pledging Conference for Syria early 2014. The overall pledge which was 220 million dirhams as a contribution from the United Arab Emirates in alleviating the suffering of brotherly Syrians and as a response to the Syrian Humanitarian Assistance Response Plan (SHARP) for the benefit of people inside Syria and the UN Syria Regional Response Plan for Syrian refugees in the neighboring countries, through the UN organizations and humanitarian programs.
Similarly, The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) had made a significant progress over the last few weeks in reaching more people affected by the violence in Syria, many of them in besieged and difficult to reach areas, due to improved access through cross-line and cross-border food deliveries. According to WFP authorities, in July, WFP food assistance reached 3.7 million people in Syria, an increase on the number of people reached in June (3.4 million). More than 300,000 people in besieged and hard to reach areas received WFP food through cross-line convoys in July – double the number of people reached using cross-line convoys in June.
WFP Authorities declare that security challenges continue to hinder WFP’s ability to deliver food, and the organization had remained over half a million short of its goal of reaching 4.25 million people. WFP will need to raise US$35 million dollars every week to meet the food needs of families affected by the conflict in Syria and refugees currently residing in neighboring countries.
DIHAD in its coming edition will be held from 24 – 26 March 2015 in Dubai World Trade Center and aiming for a big initiative in humanitarian relief and development activities, working on coordinating the stances and joint programs in order to alleviate the suffering caused by natural disasters, conflicts and wars.
DIHAD is organized annually by INDEX Conferences and Exhibitions - member of INDEX Holding and is supported by Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Humanitarian and Charity Est., the UN, the UAE Red Crescent Authority, Organization of Islamic Cooperation, International Humanitarian City, the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai and Dubai Cares.
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