Shows
Humanitarian Fault LinesWest Bank & Gaza: Roland Friedrich, Director of UNRWA Affairs in the West BankJamie speaks with Roland Friedrich, Director of UNRWA Affairs in the West Bank. They discuss how UNRWA is functioning across all occupied Palestine - West Bank and Gaza. Jamie asks him about recent Knesset legislation against UNRWA which has started to go into effect, this includes implementing a no-contact policy between UNRWA and the Israeli authorities. Roland explains the challenges in communicating with staff and authorities given the recent Israeli laws. Jamie asks him if there’s contingency plans in place if UNRWA operations are halted. And they discuss what the UN can do to ensure humanitarian support gets to...
2025-02-2539 minHumanitarian Fault LinesGaza: Georgios PetropoulosJamie speaks with Georgios Petropoulos. He’s served with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs since 2012. He completed his most recent assignment in January as Head of Suboffice in Gaza. Georgios describes the immediate aftermath of the ceasefire. He explains that there was a sigh of relief as people went back to see what, if anything, was left of their homes. Jamie and Georgios talk about the obstacles in providing basic aid to the area. The challenges include lack of mobility and security. Jamie asks him what impact a ban on UNRWA will have for hu...
2025-02-1745 minHumanitarian Fault LinesSudan: Jean-Guy Vataux, MSFJamie speaks with Jean-Guy Vataux, a humanitarian aid worker with MSF who has been in Khartoum and Darfur over the past 18 months. He has been stationed in many conflict areas in Africa and the Middle East over the last 30 years including Sierra Leone, the DRC, and Libya. Jamie and Jean-Guy discuss the war in Sudan and the humanitarian catastrophe in the nation. Jean Guy describes a very difficult situation. He explains that there are multiple challenges such as getting access to those in need and keeping workers safe in conflict zones. Jamie asks him why it seems that Sudan...
2025-02-0337 minHumanitarian Fault LinesSyria, Israel, Gaza & Trump With Deborah AmosJamie speaks with Deborah Amos. She’s a Ferris Professor of Journalism in Residence at Princeton University. Deborah is an award winning journalist who spent much of her career as an international correspondent for National Public Radio. Her reporting on the Middle East was featured regularly on NPR's flagship programs. She's the author of two books - Eclipse of the Sunnis: Power, Exile, and Upheaval in the Middle East, and Lines in the Sand: Desert Storm and the Remaking of the Arab World. Deborah regularly publishes on her sub-stack page under Deb Amos. Jamie and Deborah discuss the situation in...
2025-01-2032 minHumanitarian Fault LinesMigration Crisis: William PlowrightJamie speaks with William Plowright, Assistant Professor of International Security at Durham University. He’s a political scientist, humanitarian aid worker, and author with over a decade of experience. William’s most recent book is called The War On Rescue. It documents how governments block assistance to people in times of crisis, focusing on the European Migration Crisis. Jamie asks William why European governments have been continuing to push anti-migration initiatives. William shares examples he came across where governments were stifling or intimidating NGO’s who assist refugees. Jamie and William also discuss the Mediterranean Sea and the lack of sup...
2025-01-0733 minHumanitarian Fault LinesFood & Hunger With Rein PaulsenJamie McGoldrick speaks with Rein Paulsen. He’s the Director of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Office of Emergency and Resilience. They discuss how climate change and conflicts are impacting food security around the world. Jamie asks Rein about COP 29 and the positives he took away from the conference. Jamie also asks him about reports which show hunger levels rising over the last five years. He tells Jamie how the UN is working to reverse those numbers. They talk about the challenges of meeting malnutrition needs with donors pulling back.
2024-12-0939 minHumanitarian Fault LinesMiddle East: Peter SalisburyJamie McGoldrick speaks with Peter Salisbury. He’s an Adjunct Professor at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. He’s a veteran journalist, researcher, and policy analyst with more than 15 years of experience. Peter’s focus area is North Africa and the Middle East. They discuss what the incoming Trump administration could mean for geo-politics in the Middle East. Jamie asks Peter why the UN seems to have been sidelined and why conflicts are becoming more difficult to bring to an end. They also talk about NATO and BRICS and the role those groups will have in confl...
2024-11-2138 minHumanitarian Fault LinesTjada D’Oyen McKenna, Mercy CorpsJamie speaks with Mercy Corps CEO Tjada D’Oyen McKenna. Mercy Corps is an INGO with a worldwide presence and with a global team of 6,000 humanitarians working together on the front lines of today’s biggest crises brought about conflict and climate disaster. They discuss the troubling situations in Gaza and Lebanon. Jamie asks Tjada about operating in the conflict zone and how they keep staff safe. He asks about how the group is working with Israel given reporting that restrictions are being placed on aid. The two also talk about the crises in Haiti and Sudan. Jamie asks Tjad...
2024-11-0441 minHumanitarian Fault LinesGaza & Lebanon With Sean Carroll of AneraJamie is joined by Sean Carroll. He’s the CEO & President of Anera. The organization provides humanitarian assistance to refugees in the Middle East, with staff in Gaza, Lebanon, and Jordan. Before Anera, Sean served as the COO & chief of staff at USAID. He also spent six years as program director for the Club of Madrid, a leadership alliance of 106 former presidents and prime ministers. Jamie and Sean speak about the current work of Anera with the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Jamie asks him about the challenges in providing basic needs in a war zone. Jamie also asks him if...
2024-10-2146 minHumanitarian Fault LinesSudan: Dr Mudawi Ibrahim AdamJamie McGoldrick speaks with Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam. He’s the founder of the Sudan Social Development Organization (SUDO). The group works to provide basic necessities, including food, sanitation, and healthcare. He's a celebrated human rights activist who was jailed multiple times related to his work. Dr. Mudawi has received multiple awards, including the Human Rights First Award. They discuss the current civil war in Sudan. Dr. Mudawi talks about being in Khartoum during the violence, and he explains how the community is coming together to support each other during this difficult time.
2024-10-0830 minHumanitarian Fault LinesMailbagJamie answers questions from listeners. The topics include Gaza and Sudan. Jamie is also asked about the diminishing role of international NGOs and what impact that has on the global humanitarian system. If you would like to ask a question, send an email to FordhamIIHA@gmail.com. You can also leave a question in the comments section on your podcast platform.
2024-09-2434 minHumanitarian Fault LinesDeborah Doane: The INGO ProblemJamie speaks with Deborah Doane. She’s been working as a leader in civil society for over 25 years. She’s a Partner of Rights CoLab and co-convenor of the RINGO Project which seeks to reimagine INGOs and their role. Her new book - “The INGO Problem: Power, privilege and renewal” - was recently released. It can be found at bookstores and online. Jamie asks her about the shortcomings of INGOs and how international groups can improve the way they assist local communities. They discuss the relationship between INGOs and national NGOs, including how INGOs stifle the work of national partners...
2024-09-1031 minHumanitarian Fault LinesDirector of UNRWA Affairs in Gaza: Scott AndersonJamie McGoldrick speaks with Scott Anderson. He’s the Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator and Director of UNRWA Affairs in Gaza. They spoke on August 20th and discussed the challenges UNRWA faces in the region. Scott details the difficult conditions at medical facilities and the obstacles in getting basic supplies to these health centers. The conversation also includes his response to direct attacks on UNRWA, the process of setting up schools for kids, and his outlook for Gaza once the violence stops.
2024-08-2734 minHumanitarian Fault LinesUkraine: Yuliya SporyshJamie speaks with Yuliya Sporysh. She’s the founder of the Ukrainian NGO Girls. The organization was created with a focus on sexual education and to raise awareness about gender-based violence. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the NGO has been providing humanitarian aid, including MHPSS, cash assistance and child care services. Jamie and Yuliya speak about the challenges in delivering aid while the country is at war. She details obstacles as Russia targets infrastructure in Ukraine, including energy and water resources. Yuliya also explains some of the difficulties in securing funding from donors. She says donors have policies which can...
2024-08-1234 minHumanitarian Fault LinesMartin GriffithsJamie speaks with Martin Griffiths. He served as Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator at the United Nations from May 2021 until June 2024. They have a wide ranging conversation on today’s top humanitarian issues. Jamie asks him about the challenges in Gaza and Sudan. Jamie also asks him about the criticism directed at the UN and how the institution can improve its reputation. Another topic is humanitarian diplomacy. Martin talks about what it is and why it’s needed.
2024-07-3150 minHumanitarian Fault LinesChristopher Lockyear, Secretary General of Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders)Christopher Lockyear, Secretary General of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), speaks with Jamie McGoldrick. Prior to becoming Secretary General, Chris held field coordination roles in Sudan, Somalia, and Pakistan. The conversation was recorded in late June. Chris describes a bleak situation. He says preventable deaths are happening because humanitarians are unable to get proper aid into the area. He says MSF is delaying or can’t provide basic care until they get more supplies. Outside of Gaza, Chris and Jamie discuss how humanitarian institutions can improve and build trust. They also talk about how humanitarians are dealing with medi...
2024-07-1638 minHumanitarian Fault LinesSudan: Omima JabalHost Jamie McGoldrick speaks with Omima Jabal on Sudan. She’s an Emergency Response Rooms member for Khartoum. Jamie asks her how ERR’s in Sudan are navigating the challenges in getting aid to communities while war continues. Jamie also asks her how international organizations are supporting local NGO’s and if they could be doing more to support civilian groups. Omima is hopeful for Sudan and believes the country can rebuild once the violence ends.
2024-07-0129 minHumanitarian Fault LinesAmjad Shawa, Head of the Palestinian NGO Network in GazaHost Jamie McGoldrick speaks with Amjad Shawa, head of the Palestinian NGO network in Gaza. Amjad shares stories about life in Gaza and gives a stark assessment of what civilians are dealing with in the region. Jamie asks Amjad about the challenges in getting basic necessities, including food and water. He also asks Amjad about the mental health impact, especially on kids and teens. Amjad discusses his hope for the future and his desire to rebuild when the conflict ends.
2024-06-1831 minHumanitarian Fault LinesGaza With Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of UNRWAHost Jamie McGoldrick speaks with Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, more commonly referred to as UNRWA. Philippe has held this position since early 2020. Before this, he was Deputy UN Special Coordinator (UNSCOL) and the UN Coordinator for Lebanon. Jamie and Philippe speak about the crisis in Gaza. Philippe calls out the blatant disregard for international humanitarian law by Hamas and Israel. He details the brutal conditions for civilians and aid workers, saying the death toll is appalling. Jamie and Philippe discuss how not respecting humanitarian law i...
2024-06-0334 minHumanitarian Fault LinesRobert Mardini: ICRC, Gaza, Sudan, & The Humanitarian SystemHost Jamie McGoldrick speaks with Robert Mardini who has a long, distinguished career in the humanitarian sector. He was part of the International Committee of the Red Cross, the ICRC, for close to three decades. He rose to the position of Director General in 2020. Mardini served in that position until March of this year. His next role begins in September when he will serve as Director General of the University Hospital of Geneva, Switzerland’s largest university hospital. Jamie asks Robert about the challenges humanitarians face with the current crises in Gaza and Sudan. He also asks him about th...
2024-05-2050 minHumanitarian Fault LinesJamie McGoldrick & Larry Hollingworth On State Of Humanitarian SectorHost Jamie McGoldrick speaks with Larry Hollingworth. Jamie served as the Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory on an interim basis from January through early April. Larry is a visiting professor for the IIHA with an extensive resume. He spent decades with the UN after a career with the British Army, serving as a Coordinator in several places including Iraq, Lebanon, and Palestine. His book is titled Aid Memoir. In this bonus conversation, the two discuss the humanitarian sector as a whole. Larry asks Jamie what qualities make someone an exceptional leader in a crisis situation. They also...
2024-05-0615 minHumanitarian Fault LinesCrisis In GazaHost Jamie McGoldrick speaks with Larry Hollingworth. Jamie served as the Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory on an interim basis from January through early April. Larry is a visiting professor for the IIHA with an extensive resume. He spent decades with the UN after a career with the British Army, serving as a Coordinator in several places including Iraq, Lebanon, and Palestine. His book is titled Aid Memoir. The two discuss the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Jamie shares his experience with coordinating aid to the area and the challenges humanitarians are facing as they respond to the...
2024-04-2334 minHumanitarian Fault LinesSudan & South Sudan With Dr. Francis DengJamie McGoldrick speaks with Dr. Francis Deng. He has served in the United Nations as South Sudan's first independent ambassador and spent time as Special Adviser for the Prevention of Genocide. He’s also served as Ambassador of Sudan to Nordic Countries, Canada, and the United States and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs. Francis has written and edited dozens of books, including “War of Visions: Conflict of Identities in the Sudan.” Jamie and Dr. Deng discuss conflict and crises in Sudan and South Sudan. Dr. Deng explains issues in South Sudan and offers what he believes are solutions to improve...
2024-03-1247 minHumanitarian Fault LinesHunger Part 2 - Dr. Arif Husain, WFPThe second part of Jamie McGoldrick's conversation with Dr. Arif Husain, Chief Economist & Director of Research, Assessments & Monitoring Division at United Nations World Food at WFP. The conversation was recorded in late 2023. Jamie asks Dr. Husain how the WFP responds during conflicts, including the current one in Gaza. Jamie also asks about funding cuts which are forcing the organization to make difficult decisions on where to allocate resources. Jamie and Dr. Husain discuss the growing number of people facing hunger and famine, and how the humanitarian world can better respond. Dr. Husain emphasizes that governments and the private sector...
2024-02-1919 minHumanitarian Fault LinesHunger Part 1 - Dr. Arif Husain, WFPHost Jamie McGoldrick speaks with Dr. Arif Husain, Chief Economist & Director of Research, Assessments & Monitoring Division at United Nations World Food at WFP. The conversation was recorded in late 2023. Jamie asks Dr. Husain how the WFP responds during conflicts, including the current one in Gaza. Jamie also asks about funding cuts which are forcing the organization to make difficult decisions on where to allocate resources. Jamie and Dr. Husain discuss the growing number of people facing hunger and famine, and how the humanitarian world can better respond. Dr. Husain emphasizes that governments and the private sector need to step...
2024-02-0634 minHumanitarian Fault LinesClimate Action: Andrew HarperJamie McGoldrick speaks with Andrew Harper, Special Advisor to the High Commissioner for Refugees on Climate Action at the United Nations. The conversation was recorded late in 2023. A big part of Andrew’s job is anticipating where climate shocks will happen so the UN has a plan in place ahead of time. He tells Jamie that climate events require a complex response, explaining that people can be displaced, shelter destroyed, and supply lines disrupted. Jamie asks Andrew about the term “climate refugees.” The UNHCR doesn’t use that phrasing, instead opting to go with different language when people are displace...
2024-01-2328 minHumanitarian Fault LinesIsrael / Gaza - Yuval ShanyHost Jamie McGoldrick speaks with Yuval Shany. He’s a lecturer in Public International Law at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and a Senior Fellow at the Israel Democracy Institute. He has published an essay titled “Unpacking Key Assumptions Underlying Legal Analyses of the 2023 Hamas-Israel War.” Jamie and Yuval spoke in early December about the conflict, with Yuval giving legal interpretations for Israel’s actions since Hamas’ attack on October 7th. He acknowledges that some of the actions Israel has taken are questionable under international law, but he says in any violent conflict, there are actions which are not fully comp...
2024-01-0141 minHumanitarian Fault LinesIsrael / Gaza - Tania HaryHost Jamie McGoldrick speaks with Tania Hary, Executive Director at Gisha - Legal Center for Freedom of Movement, an Israeli not-for-profit organization which advocates for the freedom of movement of Palestinians. The conversation was recorded recently about the situation in Gaza. Tania says there’s a “deep trauma” in Israel about the attack on October 7th. She explains that views have hardened, which makes it difficult to find a solution to the crisis in Gaza. Jamie asks Tania questions on international and humanitarian law and how they relate to attacks Israel is carrying out in Gaza. They discuss the humani...
2023-12-1841 minHumanitarian Fault LinesFilippo GrandiHost Jamie McGoldrick speaks with Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees. They start by discussing the situation in Gaza, with Jamie asking what is needed to help resolve the crisis there. The conversation touches on international and humanitarian law and the importance of upholding those principles. Jamie asks Grandi if he’s worried about humanitarians losing their relevance as more crises and conflicts appear around the world. The two talk about migration and refugees and what improvements can be made on those issues. Fillipo also brings up COP 28, which is currently underway, and the Global Refugee Forum which ta...
2023-12-0444 minHumanitarian Fault LinesCharles Petrie - MyanmarHost Jamie McGoldrick speaks with Charles Petrie, a former UN assistant secretary general with more than three decades of experience in conflict and post-conflict settings. Charles’ book, The Triumph of Evil - The Rwanda Genocide and the Search for Justice, is based on his personal eye-witness accounts while working for the UN in the country during the genocide. It’s available on Amazon, at Barnes & Noble, and wherever books are sold. They discuss the situation in Gaza, and the failure of international and humanitarian law. After that, the conversation focuses on Myanmar. Charles worked in the nation for the UN a...
2023-11-2039 minHumanitarian Fault LinesRoss MountainHost Jamie McGoldrick speaks with Ross Mountain, a senior United Nations official who was a former emergency relief coordinator and a humanitarian coordinator in the Middle East. They discuss the difficult situation in Gaza, with humanitarians working to get life saving services to people in the area. Jamie and Ross also talk about the criticism directed towards the UN, including backlash from Israeli officials following a speech from Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Ross emphasizes the need for humanitarian and international law to be maintained, and he says the failure to upload these rules is leading to a catastrophic humanitarian crisis...
2023-11-0643 minHumanitarian Fault LinesReena GhelaniHost Jamie McGoldrick speaks with Reena Ghelani, the United Nations Assistant Secretary-General, Famine Prevention and Response Coordinator. She has over two decades of experience in the humanitarian sector, spanning across Africa and the Middle East. Jamie asks Reena about the work being done to combat global hunger. Reena explains the main causes for food insecurity, with conflict and climate disasters being two of the primary reasons. She argues that there needs to be better collaboration between corporations, governments, and humanitarian organizations to make meaningful inroads on feeding the hungry. Jamie brings up the budget shortfall at the World Food...
2023-10-2432 minHumanitarian Fault LinesSara Pantuliano of ODIHost Jamie McGoldrick speaks with Sara Pantuliano, Chief Executive at ODI. The organization has their own podcast, Think Change, which discusses global issues fortnightly with leading experts. Sara is the Chair of the UN Secretary-General’s Seventh Advisory Group of the UN Peacebuilding Fund and a member of UNFPA’s ICPD25 High-Level Commission. She also serves on the High-Level Group on Humanitarian Resilience and Investing and the Digital Currency Governance Consortium Steering Committee of the World Economic Forum (WEF). Jamie and Sara discuss the work ODI is currently involved in, and she gives her perspective on crises happening around the...
2023-10-0936 minHumanitarian Fault LinesUgochi Daniels on MigrationHost Jamie McGoldrick speaks with Ugochi Daniels, Deputy Director General for Operations at the International Organization for Migration in the UN. They discuss a wide variety of topics related to migration. Jamie asks her about the impact the invasion of Ukraine is having as people are pushed into different parts of Europe. There is a conversation about political difficulties, as countries change policies to restrict or even ban migrants. Ugochi details working with governments to try and establish safe and orderly migration. They also talk about how rhetoric in the media can negatively influence the perception people have of...
2023-09-2632 minHumanitarian Fault LinesNiger Coup & West AfricaHost Jamie McGoldrick speaks with Hannah Rae Armstrong, a writer and policy advisor with over a decade of field based experience in North Africa and the Sahel. Her work has been featured in the New York Times, Washington Post, and Le Monde. Jamie and Hannah spoke in late August about the coup in Niger and its impact on the region. Hannah does a great job of explaining the different parties involved in the coup, and she details what makes this coup different from other ones in west Africa. She’s critical of the role France has played, saying they’ve m...
2023-09-1237 minHumanitarian Fault LinesDr Jemilah MahmoodHost Jamie McGoldrick speaks with Dr. Jemilah Mahmood, Executive Director of the Sunway Centre for Planetary Health. She’s also had an extensive career in crisis management, which includes time at the United Nations and as an advisor to the Prime Minister of Malaysia. Jamie and Jemilah discussed crises in southeast Asia and the responses to those crises. He asked her about the situation in Myanmar, and she gave her opinion on the ASEAN response to that humanitarian crisis. Jemilah provided her perspective on the non-interference framework of ASEAN which has been criticized by some. Other topics of conversation in...
2023-08-2939 minHumanitarian Fault LinesDavid BeasleyHost Jamie McGoldrick speaks with David Beasley. He served as the Executive Director of the World Food Programme from 2017 until April 2023, and he’s had a long career in U.S. politics which includes over a decade in Congress. David was the head of the WFP when it won a Nobel Peace Prize in 2020. The conversation focuses on the growing challenges in getting food to hungry people around the world. David explains that conflicts are the biggest obstacle to ending hunger by 2030, a goal set by the United Nations. Jamie and David discuss the war in Ukraine and the im...
2023-08-1546 minHumanitarian Fault LinesAfghanistanHost Jamie McGoldrick speaks with Afghan journalist Zahra Joya, who was named one of Time’s Women of the Year in 2022. She created Rukhshana Media in November 2020, the publication covers women’s issues in Afghanistan including reproductive health, sexual violence, and gender discrimination. Jamie speaks with her about the humanitarian crisis in the nation as the Taliban places restrictions on what women can do. Zahra describes a difficult situation, with hunger and high levels of poverty. She explains how the situation is especially challenging for women who were breadwinners in their families. They are struggling to bring home income with...
2023-08-0135 minHumanitarian Fault LinesRohingya Refugee CrisisHost Jamie McGoldrick speaks with Arjun Jain, UN Principle Coordinator for the Rohingya Refugee Response, about conditions in Cox’s Bazar. The location is the site of the largest refugee camp in the world with more than 1 million Rohingya refugees. Arjun provides an overview of the situation. He gives honest answers about what’s gone right in the aid response and what needs to be better. Jamie asks Arjun about funding, and Arjun says it’s been a challenge getting the dollars to provide comprehensive support for the refugees. He explains that some services have already been cut back due to...
2023-07-1836 minHumanitarian Fault LinesNigerHost Jamie McGoldrick speaks with Louise Aubin, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Niger. She gives an outlook on the humanitarian crisis in the country. Aubin tells Jamie that violence and displacement are two of the main challenges, with those displaced heavily reliant on assistance. She says education is a top priority, and she discusses working with the government to build out resources for citizens. Jamie asks Aubin about the prospects going forward and what is needed to improve the aid response. The crisis in Niger is complex, and Aubin provides a good overview of the situation.
2023-07-0333 minHumanitarian Fault LinesSudanHost Jamie McGoldrick speaks with Alex de Waal. He is the Executive Director of the World Peace Foundation and a research professor at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. He is, most recently, co-author of “Sudan’s Unfinished Democracy: The promise and betrayal of a people’s revolution” (Hurst 2022). Jamie asks him about the conflict in Sudan. Alex describes how the two sides grew into this conflict, and he explains how there’s been a failure of diplomacy. He emphasizes how the window to calm the violence is closing quickly. Jamie asks Alex what the potential outcomes are, and her gi...
2023-06-2038 minHumanitarian Fault LinesGabriella WaaijmanHost Jamie McGoldrick speaks with Gabriella Waaijman, Global Humanitarian Director of Save the Children. They discuss a variety of topics on the humanitarian sector, including how aid work has evolved over the last several decades. Gabriella explains that while there have been improvements, there is a lack of input from local organizations. She talks about how Save the Children is partnering with local groups to help them have a say in how donor dollars are distributed. Jamie asks Gabriella about staying neutral as humanitarians which has been tested with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. They also discuss the trade of...
2023-06-0633 minHumanitarian Fault LinesHaitiHost Jamie McGoldrick speaks with Ulrika Richardson, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Haiti. They discuss the complex and difficult situation in the country. The United Nations has reported an increase in violence, with more than 600 people killed in and around the capital, Port-Au-Prince, in April. Ulrika explains what’s prompting the violence and the discussions happening to try and bring stability to the nation. She also talks with Jamie about the challenges in getting resources to people. Gangs have blocked off access to various areas, and it’s forced aid workers to use airdrops and barges to get basi...
2023-05-2330 minHumanitarian Fault LinesDavid RieffHost Jamie McGoldrick speaks with journalist and policy analyst David Rieff, author of the seminal 2003 book A Bed For The Night. That book, and those that followed, prompted the humanitarian sector to reflect on their work and how it could be improved. Jamie speaks with David about his analysis of the humanitarian space and how it has evolved. They also discuss the United Nations, its strengths and its shortcomings. David is currently writing a book about the role of memory in the Russo-Ukrainian War, a continuation from his book In Praise of Forgetting: Historical Memory and its Ironies. He...
2023-05-0939 minHumanitarian Fault LinesAdam Abdelmoula on the Humanitarian Response in SomaliaHost Jamie McGoldrick speaks with Adam Abdelmoula, UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Somalia. Adam gives an overview of the crisis in the country, with climate shocks and conflict creating a difficult environment. There are millions of people, including children, who are in desperate need of life saving assistance. After several years of poor rainy seasons, food insecurity is high. Famine is a very real risk. Adam speaks about trying to get support from donors with other crises taking attention away from Somalia. He also discusses working with officials at the national and local levels to provide aid.
2023-04-2428 minHumanitarian Fault LinesJeremy Konyndyk, President of Refugees InternationalHost Jamie McGoldrick speaks with Jeremy Konyndyk, President of Refugees International. They go over a variety of issues in the humanitarian space. Jeremy discusses major changes he would like to see in the system, arguing local groups need a bigger seat at the table with how donor dollars are used. Jamie and Jeremy talk about current crises, including Ukraine and Yemen, and how crises today are lasting longer than crises several decades ago. Jeremy explains why humanitarians have to navigate politics, saying aid workers receive blame for political mistakes made by states. Also, Jeremy lays out his goals for...
2023-04-1842 minHumanitarian Fault LinesSuzanna Tkalec on the Humanitarian Response in the Democratic Republic of the CongoHost Jamie McGoldrick speaks with Suzanna Tkalec, Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator for the Democratic Republic of the Congo since July 2021. She discusses the current crisis in the eastern provinces and the challenges humanitarians face in the region. Suzanna gives an overview of the different armed groups battling in the area, including M23, and efforts to bring much needed security and stability. Jamie asks her about the difficulty in getting financial support from donors with crises in the other parts of the world competing for donor dollars. Suzanna explains that aid workers are trying to assist people displaced from the violence...
2023-04-0436 minHumanitarian Fault LinesWest Bank & GazaHost Jamie McGoldrick speaks with members of Palestinian human rights organizations on issues in the region. Tensions are high between Palestians and Israelis with a noted uptick in violence in the West Bank since the start of the year. The escalation in violence in the West Bank coincides with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returning to power with an ultra right wing coalition. There are fears that the violence will increase around Ramadan and Passover. In Jamie’s conversations with these human rights groups, they discuss the physical and mental toll all of this is having on people. They talk ab...
2023-03-211h 04Humanitarian Fault LinesHugo Slim on Crises Today, Climate Change, and the Evolution of the Humanitarian SectorHost Jamie McGoldrick speaks with Hugo Slim, Senior Research Fellow at the Las Casas Institute for Social Justice, Blackfriars Hall, University of Oxford, on a wide range of topics. They discuss crises in Haiti, Afghanistan, and Ukraine, and the challenges in providing assistance to those countries. Hugo talks about how humanitarian aid has grown over the last several decades, describing the positives and negatives which have come from that growth. Jamie asks Hugo about the difficulty in speaking out as a humanitarian worker, when it could mean losing access to populations in need of help. Finally, the pair consider...
2023-03-0736 minHumanitarian Fault LinesJulien Harneis On The Humanitarian Response In PakistanHost Jamie McGoldrick talks with Julien Harneis, Humanitarian Coordinator in Pakistan, about efforts to provide aid to a country dealing with climate disasters and skyrocketing prices. Floods in the nation have devastated and uprooted millions of people. The value of Pakistan’s currency has fallen dramatically. Citizens are paying more for basic goods, with the cost of petrol and diesel continuing to increase. Julien outlines the crisis and explains what is being done to provide shelter and health care to citizens. He also details the challenging efforts to secure funding from donors.
2023-02-2135 minHumanitarian Fault LinesDenise Brown On The Humanitarian Response in UkraineHost Jamie McGoldrick talks with Denise Brown, UN Resident Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine, about efforts to provide aid with war in the country. Denise speaks candidly about the crisis and what humanitarian aid workers are experiencing as they respond in the region. She outlines challenges aid workers face in getting access to certain areas and talks about dealing with criticism and misinformation on social media.
2023-02-0728 minHumanitarian Fault LinesJan Egeland on The Humanitarian Imperative TodayThe humanitarian sector is facing challenging crises all over the globe. Host Jamie McGoldrick speaks with Jan Egeland, Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council, about the difficulty in responding and adapting to these crises. They discuss the political and climate obstacles humanitarian aid is dealing with, and they talk about working with donors to get support.
2023-01-2331 minHumanitarian Fault LinesMessage From Host Jamie McGoldrickHost Jamie McGoldrick lays out his goals for the podcast ahead of its launch date on January 24th. Jamie spent decades working in the humanitarian field, and while there’s been progress, he believes there needs to be change. Jamie’s looking for answers to the difficult questions facing the humanitarian world. Why are some of these crises now terminal? Why is it left to humanitarians to address chronic political failure? And is the humanitarian sector waking up to realize this new order and the increased pressures it has for humanitarian workers? He’ll explore these questions by speaking with humani...
2023-01-0601 min
PassBlue UN PodcastsEp. 18: The Security Council Goes Silent as the Secretary-General Speaks Up**BONUS EPISODE**
Will the world's war against the coronavirus stop (at least temporarily) all other wars? Secretary-General Antonio Guterres certainly hopes so. Still working in a mostly-empty UN headquarters, Guterres has made a global call for cease fires of all conflicts...with mixed results. And if Guterres gets sick himself, who is in charge of the United Nations? PassBlue reporter Laura Kirkpatrick investigated the line of succession for the top position at the UN.
No one knows how long the pandemic will last, and it may be a problem for the 75th annual UN General Assembly meetings in New York...
2020-03-2831 min
PassBlue UN PodcastsEp. 18: The Security Council Goes Silent as the Secretary-General Speaks Up**BONUS EPISODE** Will the world's war against the coronavirus stop (at least temporarily) all other wars? Secretary-General Antonio Guterres certainly hopes so. Still working in a mostly-empty UN headquarters, Guterres has made a global call for cease fires of all conflicts...with mixed results. And if Guterres gets sick himself, who is in charge of the United Nations? PassBlue reporter Laura Kirkpatrick investigated the line of succession for the top position at the UN. No one knows how long the pandemic will last, and it may be a problem for the 75th annual UN General Assembly meetings in New York...
2020-03-2831 minPassBlue UN PodcastsEp. 17: Can Global Diplomacy Survive COVID-19?On March 13, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres ordered New York-based personnel to start working from home from March 16-April 13. In this episode, we explore the question: How is working remotely affecting diplomacy? To answer it, we talked to four diplomats from four countries, all based in New York, about how their respective missions to the UN are handling the crisis: Rodrigo Carazo, the Costa Rican ambassador to the UN, Deputy Permanent Representatives Dmitry Polyanskiy of Russia and Odd-Inge Kvalheim of Norway and Mohamed Ali Jalardi, a counselor for Lebanon. And, we look at how the UN itself is transitioning f...
2020-03-1918 minPassBlue UN PodcastsEp. 17: Can Global Diplomacy Survive COVID-19?On March 13, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres ordered New York-based personnel to start working from home from March 16-April 13. In this episode, we explore the question: How is working remotely affecting diplomacy? To answer it, we talked to four diplomats from four countries, all based in New York, about how their respective missions to the UN are handling the crisis: Rodrigo Carazo, the Costa Rican ambassador to the UN, Deputy Permanent Representatives Dmitry Polyanskiy of Russia and Odd-Inge Kvalheim of Norway and Mohamed Ali Jalardi, a counselor for Lebanon. And, we look at how the UN itself is transitioning f...
2020-03-1918 min