United Kingdom Minister of State for International Development Alan Duncan visited the International Humanitarian City (IHC) on Tuesday, October 29 during his visit to the United Arab Emirates this week. Mr Duncan’s visit marked continuous cooperation between the UAE and the UK in the humanitarian and development sector.

IHC CEO Shaima Al Zarooni introduced the UK Minister and his Department for International Development (DFID) team to the humanitarian activities of various UN agencies and international humanitarian organizations operating from and utilizing the facilities of IHC as the biggest humanitarian hub worldwide.

During the meeting in which various departments of the IHC were present, the possibility of potential collaboration between DFID and IHC for future projects was discussed. The Minister provided the CEO with a briefing about the latest developments and currently operating projects conducted by DFID.

DFID currently has emergency response stockpiles in Dubai and has been working directly in 28 countries across the Middle East, Africa and Asia since 1997. Through its many projects in sectors including education, health and economic development, DFID leads the UK’s work to end extreme poverty by creating opportunities and responding to humanitarian emergencies.

IHC has been operating from Dubai since HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai established it in 2003 and has helped deliver aid in some of the worst humanitarian crises of the past decade, including the 2004 tsunami in Southeast Asia, the recurring drought in the Horn of Africa, civil unrest in Afghanistan and Darfur, the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, 2011 unrest in North Africa, and the on-going crisis in Syria.

For more information, visit ihc.ae