There is no substitute for seeing the humanitarian needs of people first-hand according to the top UN relief official.

Stephen O'Brien began his work as Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs just a couple of months ago and has already travelled to a number of conflict zones in locations such as Iraq, South Sudan and Yemen.

The British national, who has more than 20 years of experience in international development and public health, stressed the importance of meeting the people who may even be part of the protagonists in conflict.

Ari Gaitanis caught up with Mr O’Brien and began by asking him to describe what he has done in the job so far.

Duration: 3’30”