OIC participates in the 11th Dubai International Humanitarian Aid Conference

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) participated as a cosponsor in the 11th annual Dubai International Humanitarian Aid Development Conference and Exhibition (DIHAD), which wrapped up its program on Thursday, March 27, 2014. Held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the 11th DIHAD was inaugurated by HRH Princess Haya bint Al Hussein, UN Messenger of Peace and Chairperson of International Humanitarian City, wife of Sheikh of Mohamed, on Tuesday. The opening session of the three-day Conference was also addressed by HE Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi, the UAE’s Minister of International Cooperation and Development. The theme of this year’s Conference was ‘Women and Aid’. Speakers from various UN organizations working on humanitarian and development issues talked about the hardships and challenges, particularly for women and children being the first and most to suffer, in such areas as Palestine, Syria, Afghanistan, and Central African Republic. In a Special Session on Syria crisis on Wednesday, March 26, 2014, the OIC Assistant Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs, Amb. Atta El-Manan Bakhiet, said there are four impediments to delivering humanitarian aid inside Syria. These four impediments are: the growing number of internally displaced people and the expanding area; access; weakness of Syrian civil society and lack of coordination between the different organizations working in Syria. The panelists in the special session on Syria, which in addition to OIC Assistant Secretary General included the President of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent Society, Dr. Abdul Rahman Attar, the Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Crisis, Nigel Fisher, and the Regional Emergency Coordinator of the World Food Program, Muhannad Hadi, emphasized the need to provide safe access to humanitarian aid inside Syria for the 9 million internally displaced people, including 3 million who live in hard to reach areas and have received little to nothing aid. Amb. Bakhiet stressed on calling for safe corridors and cross-border solutions. He also stressed on capacity building of NGOs inside Syria and to have better coordination between the different international organizations and NGOs working in Syria. The OIC has created a coalition of NGOs working under its umbrella in Syria since 2012. On the sidelines of the Conference Amb. Bakhiet had meetings with officials from the UN institutions as well as NGOs and government organizations on ways to cooperate and coordinate for projects and programs in Syria and other regions in the Muslim world where humanitarian aid is needed. During the Conference regional and international experts, officials and aid workers took part in workshops and panel debates that focused on the impact of humanitarian crises on women – from food security and shelter, to gender-based violence, education and health. The role of women as humanitarian actors, either at community or institutional level, was discussed as well as media portrayal of women in conflict situations. Along with the conference there was a week-long humanitarian-focused exhibition with stands from aid agencies, NGOs and government organizations as well as private sector companies offering services to the humanitarian sector. The OIC Humanitarian Fund was among the exhibitors.