International Medical Corps Returns to DIHAD 2015 After Successful 2014 Launch in the United Arab Emirates

UAE, Dubai: 22nd March 2015: International Medical Corps is pleased to participate in this year’s DIHAD event focused on “Opportunity, Mobility & Sustainability". The organization will share knowledge and highlight new trends in humanitarian assistance, and network among key local, regional and global players.

Since the launch of its office last year in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in membership with International Humanitarian City (IHC), International Medical Corps is keen to share its accomplishments and expansion plans at DIHAD 2015.

Kevin Noone, Managing Director of International Medical Corps UAE, shares his enthusiasm, “The United Arab Emirates has become the nucleus of humanitarianism. We’re proud to say that our vision is aligned with HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum and HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein’s. DIHAD leverages our promise of providing unparalleled emergency response, medical, and logistical capacity building activities that are of the utmost importance in the region and beyond.”

International Medical Corps partners with a wide variety of local, national and international actors. Saeed Hersi, Head of Office, Gulf Liaison Office, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) explains: “It is vital for humanitarian actors to reach out and collaborate together, and as for OCHA, it is crucial to coordinate these collaborative efforts to ensure effective and long lasting impact for the humanitarian and development sectors. We are pleased to have International Medical Corps as one of our partners and look forward to their significant participation in this year’s pre-DIHAD workshop to share their experiences, and expertise on the issue of forced displacement in light of the current humanitarian crisis.”

A preeminent First Responder, International Medical Corps has responded to every major disaster of the last 30 years, including the civil war and famine in Somalia, genocide in Rwanda, the conflict in Darfur, the Indian Ocean tsunami, Haiti earthquake, the civil war in Libya, the Syria regional refugee crisis and most recently, the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. Director of Strategy and Partnerships for GCC and MENA at International Medical Corps, Abeer Shubassi adds, “For three decades, International Medical Corps has been a premiere global First Responder. Supporting health systems and providing training, and improving coordination before disaster strikes, responding to emergencies, and laying down the groundwork for efficient and sustainable recovery has been top priority. Our participation in this year’s DIHAD will highlight our global, regional and local accomplishments that are in tune with the theme, ‘Opportunity, Mobility & Sustainability’. The pre-DIHAD workshop will highlight key lessons gathered from our four year humanitarian experience with those affected by the crisis in Syria, as well as best practices from managing global partnerships on ground.”

Backed by a global cadre of more than 5,300 staff, International Medical Corps works alongside local communities in hard-hit conflict areas to ensure that they receive the tools and skills needed to become their own best first responders.

The conference will take place from the 24th-26th March at Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre, Dubai, UAE. As a part of their CSR initiative, Alsayegh Media will be the official media partner for International Medical Corps throughout DIHAD 2015.