For 20 years, Doctor Evan Atar Adaha has been providing medical services to the conflict-affected people of Sudan and South Sudan.

Today, his dedication against all odds is being rewarded, as he is the winner of the 2018 Nansen Refugee Award – a prize given annually by the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, to honour the women and men who work tirelessly to help people caught in humanitarian crises.

Dr. Atar is the head surgeon and medical director of the only functional hospital in Upper Nile State, in the north of South Sudan. Located in the town of Bunj, the hospital serves more than 200,000 people, including 144,000 refugees from neighbouring Sudan. 

Ahead of Monday’s award ceremony, Mr. Atar was asked by Philip Wani, from the UN’s radio station in South Sudan, Radio Miraya, what it felt like to win the prestigious prize.