As hunger levels continue to deepen in South Sudan due to a combination of violence, climate change and COVID-19, the 2021 South Sudan Humanitarian Response Plan was launched on Tuesday aiming to reach 6.6 million people – including 350,000 refugees - with life-saving assistance and protection.
A recap of Wednesday's top stories: Kyrgyz lawyer honoured by UN refugee agency; Positive but realistic outlook in runup to Syria talks; Security Council debates how African youth can bolster peace; refugees in Mexico pursue innovative labor initiatives; UN laments violent clashes in Iraq; Roadblocks in humanitarian aid for Haiti.
Rohingya women have “lived through real horrors:” UNFPA
Aid has saved lives and increased protection for civilians trapped in conflict, according to a Professor at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva.
Gilles Carbonnier made the remarks at the UN while introducing his new book “Humanitarian Economics,” an emerging field of study.
But there is a flip side to providing massive aid in certain situations, he notes.
In his study, Mr Carbonnier also argues that understanding the economics behind war, disasters and terrorism can improve the humanitarian response on the ground.
Although women possess the skills and perseverance to be leaders in humanitarian work, they are still underrepresented in the field, according to an official with the UN Development Programme (UNDP).
Silke von Brockhausen, a UNDP Communications Specialist, believes women humanitarian workers can more easily connect with women in the communities they serve, whose influence is crucial to disseminating messages during crisis situations.