Dubai, UAE -24 April 2024- Upon the instructions of His Excellency Dr. Masoud Al-Marri, the Caretaker Director General of the Islamic Organization of Food Security (IOFS), an IOFS delegation consisting of Mr. Abdula Manafi Mutualo, Advisor at the Coordination & Cooperation Department, and Mr. Emre Yuksek, Humanitarian Affairs Manager arrived to Dubai to attend the 20th edition of the Dubai International Humanitarian Aid and Development (DIHAD) Conference & Exhibition being held from 23 to 25 April 2024. This year’s event, themed “DIHAD 2004-2024: Humanitarian Diplomacy and a Journey to the Future,” is bringing together a wide range of global participants committed to advancing humanitarian causes and building collaborations across borders.
The opening ceremony commenced with a compelling address by Her Excellency Nawal Al-Hosany, the UAE’s Permanent Representative to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). Highlighting the imperative of inclusive and sustainable humanitarianism, she underscored the need for progressive diplomacy to address pressing challenges such as climate change, citing recent natural disasters which hit UAE and other countries recently as poignant reminders of the urgency of action.
A highlight of the ceremony was the announcement of the DIHAD Lifetime Achievement Award, previously conferred upon His Excellency Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations. Furthermore, the DIHAD International Personality Award for Humanitarian Leadership was presented to Jan Egeland, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, in recognition of his exemplary contributions to humanitarian causes.
In his acceptance speech, Jan Egeland emphasized the critical importance of allocating resources towards humanitarian negotiations and mediation, advocating for enhanced protection measures for vulnerable populations amidst escalating crises.
More than 16,000 participants and visitors from 154 countries are expected to attend DIHAD 2024 over three days, including over 106 buyers from United Nations agencies, leading institutions, charities, and humanitarian organisations from around the world.
More than 900 organisations and charities actively involved in humanitarian affairs are participating in the event, along with 131 speakers who are experts in the humanitarian field worldwide. The event’s programme will cover vital topics through 24 main sessions and workshops, providing training and exploring numerous important perspectives and solutions in the realm of humanitarian diplomacy.
During the conference, the IOFS delegation actively interacted with key stakeholders, including prominent UAE-based entities such as The Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI), Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation, Dubai Charity Association, and Dubai’s Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department (IACAD), among others, on the sidelines of the event. The delegation has taken the opportunity to explore the exhibition hall, engaging with various institutions, exchanging ongoing initiatives, and exploring potential avenues for collaboration. This facilitated valuable networking and connections with diverse initiatives, fostering partnerships and collective efforts to address humanitarian challenges effectively.
Moreover, while in Dubai, the IOFS delegation took the opportunity to pay a courtesy visit to H.E. Eng. Mohammed Mousa Alameeri, Executive Board Member of IOFS and Assistant Undersecretary for the Food Diversity Sector at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, UAE. During the meeting, the delegation underscored the importance of partnerships and provided H.E. Eng. Alameeri with an update on recent humanitarian endeavours, including the Gaza and Afghanistan Food Security Program. The aim was to explore avenues for strengthening relationships with key stakeholders in the UAE. H.E. Eng. Alameeri expressed his support for IOFS initiatives and suggested holding more in-depth discussions in the coming days.
It is worth mentioning that IOFS which has been an institutional participant since 2022, showcasing its firm dedication to global humanitarian efforts. In fact, the participation of IOFS in DIHAD 2024 underscores its unwavering commitment to advancing global food security and humanitarian diplomacy, while fostering collaborative initiatives to address the world's most pressing challenges.
