A leading war surgeon has spoken of the increasing risks associated with saving lives in combat zones and the need for governments to “muster the courage” to protect humanitarians.
A “piano prodigy” from Jordan will use his musical talents to advocate for some of the world’s most marginalized children, particularly those caught in conflict, violence and poverty.
Zade Dirani was this week appointed Regional Ambassador for the Middle East and North Africa by the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
The pianist and composer said he firmly believes that music is a powerful tool for peace and co-existence.
Children have suffered “unspeakable violence” during war but most of them remain positive, a senior UN envoy said ahead of World Humanitarian Day (WHD) on 19 August.
Leila Zerrougui, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, was referring to a photo exhibit entitled “When I Grow Up”.
“Protracted crises” brought on by conflict lead, on average, to a tripling in the number of people going hungry, according to a senior Food and Agriculture Organization official (FAO).
Dominique Burgeon is Director of FAO's Emergency and Rehabilitation Division and FAO's Strategic Programme Leader on Resilience.