28 – 30 March 2011 in Dubai

Dubai International humanitarian Aid and Development Conference and Exhibition (DIHAD 2011) concluded its eighth edition on Wednesday 30 March 2011 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The event started on March 28th under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President, Prime Minister of United Arab Emirates, Ruler of Dubai, supported by Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Humanitarian and Charity Est., the United Nations, the UAE Red Crescent Society and the Organisation of Islamic Conference.

The 2011 DIHAD conference and exhibition under the theme: NEW TECHNOLOGIES: How these impact humanitarian and development operations addressed the manner in which new technologies are affecting and changing the way humanitarian and development organisations collectively operate and, also, the extent to which these changes are benefitting populations in need of assistance.

Through fostering an interdiciplinary dialogue DIHAD 2011 aimed to contribute on a number of pressing issues affecting the humanitarian domain and communities in need.

The Foundation GRF Davos was represented by its president, Dr Walter J. Ammann, who was invited to participated in the panel session on ‘How new technologies are assisting disaster-prone countries with capacity-building and preparedness’.

The 2011 DIHAD event presented all stakeholders with the timely opportunity to discuss and exchange information on this topical subject. Today, there is an ever-accelerating development of technological instruments, and know-how, with which humanitarian responders and development workers are provided. The sessions, panels and workshops of the DIHAD 2011 attempted to examine some of the consequences of what amounts, in many instances, to new methods and new methodologies.

Thus, DIHAD 2011 brought together suppliers, users and – to some extent - beneficiaries, in an attempt to review the manner in which all involved parties are affected.  

DIHAD 2011 topics included:  

• How new technologies are assisting disaster-prone countries to improve their own response capacities and to be better prepared to deal with the impact of disasters.
• How new technologies are assisting humanitarian workers in diagnosing the needs of affected population groups so that both improved and more rapid response actions are undertaken.
  
• How new technologies impact the way in which the international community deals with the crucial issue of Food Security (with a related review of the logistics, transport and communications sectors).
  
• The impact of new technologies on coordination and information management.
  
• Satellite technology and how related applications are being utilized in humanitarian assistance operations.
  

Further Information:

DIHAD WEBSITE