Dubai Humanitarian Award

Life for Relief and Development at the Dubai International Humanitarian Aid & Development Conference:

The Dubai International Humanitarian Aid & Development Conference (DIHAD 2026) concluded its activities at the Dubai World Trade Centre under the theme “Humanity in Transition: Shaping the Future of Humanitarian Work.” The conference brought together numerous humanitarian institutions, relief organizations, government entities, and experts from around the world to discuss the growing challenges facing communities affected by wars, disasters, and escalating humanitarian crises, particularly in the Middle East.

The current edition of the conference was held at a time when the global humanitarian system is undergoing rapid transformations due to the increasing complexity of crises, growing humanitarian needs, and changing operational environments. This requires humanitarian institutions and organizations to rethink traditional response mechanisms and develop models that are more flexible, innovative, and sustainable.

21,000 Participants from 165 Countries

Life for Relief and Development was among the prominent participants. Khalil Meek, Chief Development and Resource Development Officer at the organization, emphasized that the conference focuses on anticipating the future of humanitarian action amid the increasing number of wars, conflicts, climate-related disasters, economic crises, displacement, technological developments, and funding gaps. The conference aims to exchange expertise, build partnerships, and develop practical and sustainable solutions to support the poorest and most vulnerable populations.

He added: “Life was among more than 21,000 participants and visitors from 165 countries, alongside more than 1,000 entities, partners, and organizations working in the humanitarian sector. There were also 320 speakers who participated in more than 260 sessions and workshops, alongside the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, academic and research institutions, the private sector, charitable and donor organizations, financial institutions, development banks, and media outlets.”

The conference represents a platform that brings together decision-makers, experts, implementers, funders, and entities equipped with innovation and technology tools. This enables the development of more integrated responses to humanitarian crises and creates opportunities for humanitarian organizations to communicate, exchange expertise, and explore opportunities for cooperation and partnership.

“Life”: Being at the Heart of the Field and Responding Rapidly

Dr. Abdul Wahab Alawneh, Regional Director for the Middle East at Life, added that the future of humanitarian action, based on Life’s field experience and 33 years of work on the ground, requires continuous development.

He said: “We presented our proposals on the role of leadership, innovation, and partnerships in advancing humanitarian action and making it more adaptable to the rapid changes taking place around the world. We focused on how to turn ideas into practical realities, strengthen implementation and operational efficiency, measure results, and transform the ideas and commitments presented during the conference into practical solutions that create a genuine and sustainable impact on communities in need.”

“At a time when humanitarian organizations are increasingly required to develop tools to anticipate needs, prepare for crises at an early stage, improve resource management, and reach affected populations more quickly and efficiently, this is precisely what has distinguished Life over the past years through its presence at the heart of events from day one—whether in areas affected by earthquakes and floods, as occurred in Libya, Morocco, and Türkiye, or deep inside conflict zones, as in Gaza and Lebanon. Life has been able to reach remote civilian areas under bombardment where humanitarian assistance had not reached.”

The conference also discussed the importance of developing more proactive humanitarian models, so that responses are not limited to action after a disaster occurs, but also include advance preparedness, strengthening community resilience, and reducing future needs. This means moving from response to preparedness, from isolated efforts to partnerships, and from temporary solutions to sustainable impact.

More Effective Partnerships

Nada Haroun, Director of Life’s office in Jordan, added:

“Our presence here is not merely attendance; it is a representation of a mission, a team, and work that we believe in and consider important. Advancing humanitarian action is no longer the responsibility of a single organization or country. Rather, it is a collective responsibility that requires continuous international cooperation, more effective partnerships, more sustainable funding, and responses that place people, their dignity, and their ability to build a safer future at the heart of humanitarian action.”

“Last year, Life received the Dubai Humanitarian Award for Most Effective Partnership for its shelter-camp project in the Gaza Strip. Therefore, this year, we established a new partnership with the Emirates Red Crescent, which will help strengthen the delivery of assistance and support to vulnerable and most-needy populations.”

Transparency: A Safe Bridge Between Donors and Those in Need

She continued:

“The conference addressed the issue of donation transparency by strengthening the regulation of charitable work, reinforcing donor trust, and ensuring that donations reach their intended beneficiaries through approved channels. These are also principles that have distinguished Life and contributed to its ranking third globally among leading humanitarian aid organizations and fifth among the best organizations working in Palestine and addressing poverty. This enabled Life to receive a 100% rating from Charity Navigator, in addition to being accredited by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and being selected among the top humanitarian organizations in the United States by Impactful Ninja, with expenditures reaching $666 million usd.”

These principles are becoming increasingly important as digital platforms expand their use for collecting donations and launching humanitarian campaigns. Transparency and verification of organizations managing donations have therefore become essential to protecting donors and ensuring that resources are directed to the beneficiaries who need them most.

For the Silo, Tasneem Elridi/LIFEUSA

Connecting donors with the urgent humanitarian needs of displaced families living in tents across Gaza.

The city of Baltimore, Maryland, recently hosted the 51st annual convention of the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) in collaboration with the Muslim American Society (MAS), attracting nearly 25,000 attendees from around the world. This year’s convention expanded significantly, featuring a large exhibition hall that brought together hundreds of exhibitors, sponsors, community organizations, and charitable institutions.

Humanitarian and relief organizations, particularly those supporting displaced families living in Gaza’s tent camps, played a central role throughout the event. Beyond showcasing their projects, the convention serves as one of the largest annual platforms in North America for fundraising, partnership development, and direct engagement with Muslim communities.

A Platform Connecting Humanitarian Action with Community Engagement

Speaking about Life for Relief and Development’s participation in the convention, Vicki Roob, Director of International Programs, emphasized that the event is among the most significant annual Islamic gatherings in the United States and North America. It serves as a strategic platform that brings together humanitarian, charitable, and community-focused initiatives while providing valuable opportunities for direct engagement with diverse segments of American and Muslim communities.

Roob explained that the organization’s participation reflects its commitment to maintaining a strong presence at events that unite thousands of individuals passionate about humanitarian and charitable work. Each year, the convention attracts tens of thousands of attendees from across the United States and Canada, including community leaders, activists, volunteers, donors, charitable organizations, and humanitarian agencies. This environment offers a valuable opportunity to showcase Life’s mission, programs, and global humanitarian projects.

She added that visitors demonstrated significant interest in global humanitarian issues, particularly communities affected by conflict, disasters, and the ongoing displacement crisis in Gaza. This provided an important opportunity to highlight the growing needs of vulnerable populations and mobilize additional support for those most affected.

Life: A Trusted Bridge Between Donors and Those in Need

Omar Mamdouh, Director of Executive Projects, explained that the organization used the convention to spotlight a wide range of humanitarian programs and initiatives, including food security projects, assistance for vulnerable families, orphan sponsorship programs, and water, health, and education initiatives. Special attention was also given to Life’s emergency relief efforts in countries facing escalating humanitarian crises, particularly its support for displaced families living in Gaza’s tent camps and the delivery of humanitarian aid throughout the Gaza Strip.

Mamdouh noted that one of the convention’s most important benefits is the opportunity to connect directly with donors and demonstrate the impact of their contributions. The organization provided attendees with a comprehensive overview of living conditions inside Gaza’s displacement camps, including the severe shortages of essential supplies, the challenges faced by displaced children, the effects of extreme weather conditions, and the broader housing and shelter crisis affecting families throughout the region.

To help donors better understand these realities, Life displayed one of its newly developed shelter tents used in Gaza. Whereas previous tents measured 4 by 4 meters, the updated model measures 4 by 6 meters and includes a dedicated bathroom space to provide greater privacy, particularly for women. Visitors were also shown a model of daily life inside the tents, along with improvements and modifications made in response to feedback from displaced residents.

The exhibition further highlighted Life’s humanitarian projects around the world, its partnerships with universities to raise awareness about global humanitarian challenges, and samples of food assistance, including canned meat products distributed to beneficiaries.

Mamdouh emphasized that face-to-face engagement with donors provides an invaluable opportunity to share success stories and demonstrate tangible results made possible through their generosity, strengthening public confidence in sustainable and organized humanitarian work.

Engaging Youth and Channeling Their Efforts Toward Good

According to Khalil Meek, Director of Development, the convention also serves as an important platform for promoting a culture of giving and volunteerism. Life actively seeks to recruit new volunteers and involve them in its humanitarian mission while introducing young people and families to opportunities for community engagement and charitable service both within the United States and internationally.

He further noted that participation in the convention enables the organization to establish partnerships and collaborative relationships with other humanitarian and charitable organizations, facilitating the exchange of expertise and best practices that ultimately enhance the effectiveness and reach of humanitarian programs and joint initiatives.

Life’s Gaza Tents Featured in Al Jazeera Coverage

The organization’s activities during the convention received coverage from Al Jazeera, as Life’s exhibition booth attracted significant interest and engagement from participants. Many visitors took part in solidarity activities and wrote messages of support expressing compassion for communities affected by humanitarian crises.

Palestine maintained a strong presence throughout the convention. Participants were invited to write messages of solidarity on a tent that is scheduled to be sent to Gaza through Life for Relief and Development. This initiative builds upon the organization’s shelter support projects launched since the beginning of the war, including nine displacement camps established across northern, central, and southern Gaza.

These camps feature durable, standards-compliant tents that have provided shelter for approximately 46,000 displaced individuals. Designed for easy assembly and relocation to accommodate repeated displacement, the tents are also fire-resistant, helping protect civilian lives. Each tent is equipped with bedding and blankets, while every camp includes a medical clinic, sanitation facilities, solar energy systems, and insulation materials designed to protect residents from winter rains and extreme summer heat.

Life: Ranked Among the World’s Leading Humanitarian Organizations

Life for Relief and Development has been operating in more than 60 countries for over 33 years through a network of 16 international offices. The organization holds Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

According to Charity Navigator, Life ranks third globally among leading humanitarian organizations, fifth among organizations supporting displaced Palestinians, and fifth among organizations combating poverty worldwide. The organization also received a perfect 100% rating for 2026. In addition, it has been recognized by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and named by Impactful Ninja as one of the leading humanitarian organizations in the United States.

Life for Relief and Development was also awarded the Dubai Humanitarian Award for Best Partnership in recognition of its Gaza shelter camp initiative.

For the Silo, Tasneem Elridi.

For more information:
https://lifeusa.org/#social-media

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