DUBAI: The 16th edition of the Dubai International Humanitarian Aid and Development Conference and Exhibition, DIHAD, will kick-off on Tuesday at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. DIHAD is the first humanitarian aid and development event in the Middle East.

Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, the event will run until 14th March 2019, with this year’s edition themed, ‘People on the Move’.

This year’s conference will highlight the challenges facing refugees, migrants and forcibly displaced populations and brings together some of the biggest names in the international humanitarian world including Dr. Mohammed Ateeq Al Falahi, speaking on behalf of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region and Chairman of the Emirates Red Crescent, ERC, Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR, Antonio Vitorino, Director-General of International Organisation for Migration, IOM, and a number of other esteemed speakers, eminent personalities, world leaders and prominent figures in the humanitarian world.

In its 16th edition, DIHAD presents a rich comprehensive agenda and is expected to attract over 5,300 participants, delegates and visitors from over 84 countries representing NGO’s, Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, Foundations and Charitable organisations. In addition, the conference is expected to feature 48 renowned speakers from the humanitarian sector, who will offer their key insights during eight key sessions on a number of topics concerning the field of humanitarian aid and development.

Commenting on the occasion, Ambassador Gerhard Putman-Cramer, Director, DIHAD International Scientific Advisory Board - DISAB, said, “At DIHAD, we aspire to explore solutions to a number of fundamental questions impacting refugees and migrants including: Will the recently adopted Global Compact on Refugees make a difference? Will aid-providing organisations and countries change their approaches and priorities in terms of assistance and integration? What are the security issues, for refugees and migrants on the one hand and for host communities on the other? Are the media reporting objectively on what is a most complex set of issues in motion? And what are the prospects, the best ideas, the possible ‘solutions’.”

WAM