DUBAI: The Dubai International Humanitarian Aid Development Conference and Exhibition (DIHAD) has opened discussions, themed Women and Aid, on the impact of humanitarian crises on women — from food security and shelter, to gender-based violence, education and health.

“We must reach out to women as they are part of families and communities with values and traditions and not isolate them. Look what happens to aid projects when they are seen, fairly or not, as a way to impose the social ideology of outside donors. When aid is seen as a threat, food does not get delivered, vaccines are destroyed, and aid workers are killed,” Princess Haya bint Al-Hussein, UN Messenger of Peace and Chairperson of International Humanitarian City, said in her speech.

A number of top regional and international experts, officials and aid workers have been taking part in workshops and panel debates that concludes on Thursday. 
“This event has become a global umbrella to promote and improve the mechanisms of the humanitarian response to crises and disasters that arise in various parts of the world”, said Sheikha Lubna Al-Qasimi, minister of international cooperation and development.

Ertharin Cousin, executive director of the UN World Food Programs, focused on the massive impacts war and disasters have on women’s safety, food security, health and education.

Commenting on the Syrian humanitarian crises Muhannad Hadi, WFP regional emergency coordinator for Syria and neighboring countries said: “WFP moves around 40,000 metric tons of food each month to feed close to 4 million people across Syria. This is one of WFP’s largest and most complex operations worldwide.”
“We are grateful for the generous contributions that have enabled us to save lives‫.WFP requires $40 million each week to assist affected people in Syria and refugees in neighboring countries.” ontinued MuhannadHadi

While participating in the activities on second day, Mohammed Assaf, the Arab Idol singer and Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) said: “Before I became a singer and the Arab Idol winner, and a Goodwill Ambassador – I am a Palestinian refugee, and a student of the UNRWA schools in Gaza.”

He appealed to all humanitarian institutions and associations to do all what they can to finance the UNRWA’s activities.

Princess Haya praised the efforts of International Islamic Relief Organization in Saudi Arabia (IIROSA) to support and assist the needy people in different parts of the world during her tour to IIROSA stand. As part of the program, Princess Haya also toured to many other booths.

IIROSA spokes person told Arab News that they have many expansion plans for next year and will open new offices in India and Mauritania. “We spent $30 million in Syria last year for different kind of relief programs”

Meanwhile, Dubai Cares, the UAE-based philanthropic organization working towards tackling poverty through education in developing countries, announced a new AED 17 million ($4,614,533) holistic quality learning program in Pakistan at DIHAD. Dubai Cares will implement the program in partnership with Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi (ITA), a long-standing collaborator in Pakistan.