The Dubai Airshow is highlighting the role of aviation in providing humanitarian relief with a dedicated pavilion at this year’s show. The Dubai Airshow takes place 17 to 21 November 2013 and is moving to a new purpose built home at Dubai World Central (DWC), located in Jebel Ali, Dubai.

The Dubai Airshow has been supporting the UN World Food Programme (WFP) since 2005 and this new initiative will bring WFP and Care by Air together in a new humanitarian pavilion; which in turn will showcase more than 15 charitable organisations, air operators and supporters in order to encourage more key players to join their efforts.

The WFP is the world’s largest humanitarian organisation addressing hunger and the UN’s frontline agency in the fight against global hunger; using its food supplies to meet emergency needs and support social and economic development in the world’s most vulnerable communities. To augment this function, the agency introduced WFP Aviation - which charters aircraft from around the globe for safe and reliable transportation of food, non-food items and humanitarian personnel.

Currently, more than 100 aircraft are operated by registered carriers on behalf of WFP Aviation, transporting in excess of 300,000 passengers and 200,000 tonnes of cargo every year for both WFP and other humanitarian organisations.

Samir Sajet, Regional Safety Officer, WFP highlighted the role of events in building support for their cause, saying: “Exhibiting at air shows especially the eminent Dubai Airshow, helps us raise awareness about the necessity of having all hands on deck in the fight against hunger, and in turn assists us in reaching out to the aviation industry to showcase how aviation can be deployed within a dignified noble cause it also provides us with an opportunity to meet various potential operators that might be willing to put their services into the greater good of mankind.”

Care by Air, a non-profit initiative founded in 2009 that provides ‘at-cost’ transportation and logistics support for humanitarian causes will also host organisations in the new pavilion. It is led by five leading aviation and logistics companies; Emirates Airline, Etihad Airways, Maximus Air, Aramex and Abu Dhabi Airports Company.

By exhibiting at the Dubai Airshow, Care by Air hopes to highlight how the industry can give back to society - Lama Awwad, Manager Corporate Social Responsibility explains: “Dubai Airshow has kindly shown their support and enabled us to reach out to a focussed arena. We look forward to educating the aviation community on what we do and how they can get involved. The goal of Care by Air is simple: to reduce the cost of logistics for the Humanitarian organisations. It is based on the principle of making better use of empty air cargo space to carry qualifying humanitarian aid either, for free or at cost.

The goal of Care by Air reflects the values of the UAE as we believe in integrity, compassion and transparency, and our members remain true to this; we look forward to building new relationships and spreading this message at the Dubai Airshow in November.”

The Dubai Airshow is organised under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and in co-operation with Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Dubai Airports and the UAE Armed Forces.

The Dubai Airshow team are available at the Paris Airshow, Chalet D50, for bookings and show enquiries.