‘A month of giving’ during ‘unprecedented suffering’: IFRC’s director for the Middle East and North Africa reflects on Ramadan and acts of kindness amidst conflict and tragedy
As Muslims around the world celebrate Ramadan, IFRC’s regional director for the Middle East and North Africa, Hossam Elsharkawi, reflects on the humanitarian crises impacting his region and on what Muslims consider a sacred month of fasting, giving and prayer. “Through fasting, you feel what's it like to be hungry, what's it like to be thirsty,” says Elsharkawi. “Ramadan is also a month of giving, when people share their meals and give more to charity.” Elsharkawi also explains the time-honoured tradition of giving in the Islamic world, and about a campaign launched during Ramadan by the IFRC to accept zakat, a traditional form of giving in Muslim culture.
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Big challenges, uncertain times. A talk with Loyce Pace, IFRC’s new regional director for the Americas
How will technology shape the way we respond to emergencies? What is ‘human biology’ and how is it connected to human rights? What are the big challenges ahead for global health during uncertain times? Loyce Pace, IFRC’s new Regional Director for the America, is well placed to explore these questions. With a long background in community and global health advocacy, she most recently served as Assistant Secretary for Global Affairs at the United States Department of Health and Human Services. Before that she played key roles coordinating the United States’ global response to health crises. Tune in to see how she sees the big challenges facing the Americas, from climate-related disasters to migration, outbreaks, and more.
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32:34
‘I know what it takes to experience that level of vulnerability’ – IFRC’s new regional director for Africa talks about the challenges ahead
What does it take to manage humanitarian crisis response for a massive continent dealing with a wide range of challenges – conflict, mass population movements, epidemics, tropical storms, drought and a widespread hunger crisis. Find out how IFRC’s new regional director for the Africa region, Charles Businge, plans to tackle these challenges and how his upbringing in Uganda shaped him for the task ahead. “I have seen war and fighting between different armed groups and I have worked in similar contexts,” he tells us. “So, I am committed to supporting people who faced these kinds of vulnerabilities, because I know what it takes to experience that level of vulnerability.”
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Unpacking trust – that invisible yet critical element – with Jessie Thomson, IFRC’s head of delegation in Türkiye
Trust is not easy to quantify. But without it, many things in life become impossible. Humanitarian work is no exception. Jessie Thomson, IFRC’s head of delegation in Türkiye, shares what she’s learned about building trust, including some essential, concrete behaviours that build trust among partners, the public and work teams. When trust is present, she says, people are more effective, innovative and less afraid to take on more ambitious goals. One example of trust in action, she says, was the massive and rapid 2023 earthquake response, led by the Turkish Red Crescent with support from the IFRC network.
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Speaking up for people in crisis: Unpacking ‘humanitarian diplomacy’ with IFRC’s Dylan Winder
Most people have some idea of what is meant by diplomacy. But what is ‘humanitarian diplomacy?’ Dylan Winder, permanent observer to the United Nations and director of global humanitarian diplomacy at the IFRC, says it’s about speaking up and finding solutions for people caught in crisis, who find themselves in vulnerable situations but don’t have a voice in the halls of power. These days, it also means standing up for local people who try to help their vulnerable neighbours. “By far the majority of humanitarian workers killed or injured in crisis situations are local workers,” he says. “That has to change and be recognized as a critical issue for the global community.”
In the aftermath of an emergency, the sight of someone wearing a red vest is a sign that help has arrived. It’s a sign of hope and of comfort. In this podcast, you will meet people who have dedicated their lives to helping others. We talk with them about the complexities of today’s crises, the solutions, and what inspires them to keep going.
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