Dubai humanitarian conference to discuss plight of refugees

Dihad conference and exhibition begins on Tuesday

FILE - In this Aug. 4, 2016 file photo, people gather to take basic food stuffs and other aid from community leaders charged with distributing equitably the supplies to the 64,000-person refugee camp called Ruqban on the Jordan-Syria border. Statements issued by the United Nations and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent said their joint convoy reached Rukban camp and would deliver assistance to 50,000 people The convoy was supposed to arrive last week but was delayed due to logistics and security concerns. The U.N. said the operation is expected to take three to four days. (AP Photo/File)
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The region’s biggest humanitarian conference will begin in Dubai on Tuesday.

The Dubai International Humanitarian Aid and Development, or Dihad, conference and exhibition will bring together experts and decision makers from around the world to discuss the biggest humanitarian issues.

Among the highlights are a talk by Christos Stylianides, European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, about how education can help resolve the refugee and migration crisis.

Professor Giles Carbonnier, vice-president of the International Committee of The Red Cross, will deliver a speech on Wednesday about humanitarian responses to forced displacement and migration.

Ambassador Gerhard Putman-Cramer, director of the Dihad International Scientific Advisory Board, said: “At Dihad, we aspire to explore solutions to a number of fundamental questions affecting refugees and migrants.

“We hope Dihad 2019 will provide a great platform for the meeting of committed, experienced and knowledgeable minds on the issues at hand and we believe this pivotal gathering

should  duly contribute to the quality of tomorrow’s decisions and practices.”should duly contribute to the quality of tomorrow’s decisions and practices.”

The 16th edition of the conference is expected to attract over 5,300 participants, delegates and visitors from over 84 countries representing NGOs, charities, the Red Cross and the Red Crescent.