Humanitarian Fault Lines
Humanitarian Fault Lines is a podcast from Fordham University's Institute of International Humanitarian Affairs. Host Jamie McGoldrick examines why humanitarian crises develop and what is or isn't being done to address them. He seeks out voices and perspectives from people working in the humanitarian field. The show also explores some of the most difficult questions facing humanitarian affairs today.
Episodes
West Bank & Gaza: Roland Friedrich, Director of UNRWA Affairs in the West Bank
Jamie speaks with Roland Friedrich, Director of UNRWA Affairs in the West Bank. They discuss how UNRWA is functioning across all occupied Palestine - West Bank and Gaza. Jamie asks him about recent Knesset legislation against UNRWA which has started to go into effect, this includes implementing a no-contact policy between UNRWA and the Israeli authorities. Roland explains the challenges in communi
Gaza: Georgios Petropoulos
Jamie speaks with Georgios Petropoulos. He’s served with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs since 2012. He completed his most recent assignment in January as Head of Suboffice in Gaza. Georgios describes the immediate aftermath of the ceasefire. He explains that there was a sigh of relief as people went back to see what, if anything, was left of their homes. Jam
Sudan: Jean-Guy Vataux, MSF
Jamie speaks with Jean-Guy Vataux, a humanitarian aid worker with MSF who has been in Khartoum and Darfur over the past 18 months. He has been stationed in many conflict areas in Africa and the Middle East over the last 30 years including Sierra Leone, the DRC, and Libya. Jamie and Jean-Guy discuss the war in Sudan and the humanitarian catastrophe in the nation. Jean Guy describes a very difficult
Syria, Israel, Gaza & Trump With Deborah Amos
Jamie speaks with Deborah Amos. She’s a Ferris Professor of Journalism in Residence at Princeton University. Deborah is an award winning journalist who spent much of her career as an international correspondent for National Public Radio. Her reporting on the Middle East was featured regularly on NPR's flagship programs. She's the author of two books - Eclipse of the Sunnis: Power, Exile, and Uphea
Migration Crisis: William Plowright
Jamie speaks with William Plowright, Assistant Professor of International Security at Durham University. He’s a political scientist, humanitarian aid worker, and author with over a decade of experience. William’s most recent book is called The War On Rescue. It documents how governments block assistance to people in times of crisis, focusing on the European Migration Crisis. Jamie asks William why
Food & Hunger With Rein Paulsen
Jamie McGoldrick speaks with Rein Paulsen. He’s the Director of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Office of Emergency and Resilience. They discuss how climate change and conflicts are impacting food security around the world. Jamie asks Rein about COP 29 and the positives he took away from the conference. Jamie also asks him about reports which show hunger levels rising o
Middle East: Peter Salisbury
Jamie McGoldrick speaks with Peter Salisbury. He’s an Adjunct Professor at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. He’s a veteran journalist, researcher, and policy analyst with more than 15 years of experience. Peter’s focus area is North Africa and the Middle East. They discuss what the incoming Trump administration could mean for geo-politics in the Middle East. Jamie
Tjada D’Oyen McKenna, Mercy Corps
Jamie speaks with Mercy Corps CEO Tjada D’Oyen McKenna. Mercy Corps is an INGO with a worldwide presence and with a global team of 6,000 humanitarians working together on the front lines of today’s biggest crises brought about conflict and climate disaster. They discuss the troubling situations in Gaza and Lebanon. Jamie asks Tjada about operating in the conflict zone and how they keep staff safe.
Gaza & Lebanon With Sean Carroll of Anera
Jamie is joined by Sean Carroll. He’s the CEO & President of Anera. The organization provides humanitarian assistance to refugees in the Middle East, with staff in Gaza, Lebanon, and Jordan. Before Anera, Sean served as the COO & chief of staff at USAID. He also spent six years as program director for the Club of Madrid, a leadership alliance of 106 former presidents and prime ministers. J
Sudan: Dr Mudawi Ibrahim Adam
Jamie McGoldrick speaks with Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam. He’s the founder of the Sudan Social Development Organization (SUDO). The group works to provide basic necessities, including food, sanitation, and healthcare. He's a celebrated human rights activist who was jailed multiple times related to his work. Dr. Mudawi has received multiple awards, including the Human Rights First Award. They discuss t
Mailbag
Jamie answers questions from listeners. The topics include Gaza and Sudan. Jamie is also asked about the diminishing role of international NGOs and what impact that has on the global humanitarian system. If you would like to ask a question, send an email to FordhamIIHA@gmail.com. You can also leave a question in the comments section on your podcast platform.
Deborah Doane: The INGO Problem
Jamie speaks with Deborah Doane. She’s been working as a leader in civil society for over 25 years. She’s a Partner of Rights CoLab and co-convenor of the RINGO Project which seeks to reimagine INGOs and their role. Her new book - “The INGO Problem: Power, privilege and renewal” - was recently released. It can be found at bookstores and online. Jamie asks her about the shortcomings of INGOs and ho
Director of UNRWA Affairs in Gaza: Scott Anderson
Jamie McGoldrick speaks with Scott Anderson. He’s the Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator and Director of UNRWA Affairs in Gaza. They spoke on August 20th and discussed the challenges UNRWA faces in the region. Scott details the difficult conditions at medical facilities and the obstacles in getting basic supplies to these health centers. The conversation also includes his response to direct attacks o
Ukraine: Yuliya Sporysh
Jamie speaks with Yuliya Sporysh. She’s the founder of the Ukrainian NGO Girls. The organization was created with a focus on sexual education and to raise awareness about gender-based violence. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the NGO has been providing humanitarian aid, including MHPSS, cash assistance and child care services. Jamie and Yuliya speak about the challenges in delivering aid whil
Martin Griffiths
Jamie speaks with Martin Griffiths. He served as Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator at the United Nations from May 2021 until June 2024. They have a wide ranging conversation on today’s top humanitarian issues. Jamie asks him about the challenges in Gaza and Sudan. Jamie also asks him about the criticism directed at the UN and how the institution can
Christopher Lockyear, Secretary General of Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders)
Christopher Lockyear, Secretary General of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), speaks with Jamie McGoldrick. Prior to becoming Secretary General, Chris held field coordination roles in Sudan, Somalia, and Pakistan. The conversation was recorded in late June. Chris describes a bleak situation. He says preventable deaths are happening because humanitarians are unable to get proper aid into the area. He
Sudan: Omima Jabal
Host Jamie McGoldrick speaks with Omima Jabal on Sudan. She’s an Emergency Response Rooms member for Khartoum. Jamie asks her how ERR’s in Sudan are navigating the challenges in getting aid to communities while war continues. Jamie also asks her how international organizations are supporting local NGO’s and if they could be doing more to support civilian groups. Omima is hopeful for Sudan and beli
Amjad Shawa, Head of the Palestinian NGO Network in Gaza
Host Jamie McGoldrick speaks with Amjad Shawa, head of the Palestinian NGO network in Gaza. Amjad shares stories about life in Gaza and gives a stark assessment of what civilians are dealing with in the region. Jamie asks Amjad about the challenges in getting basic necessities, including food and water. He also asks Amjad about the mental health impact, especially on kids and teens. Amjad discusse
Gaza With Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of UNRWA
Host Jamie McGoldrick speaks with Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, more commonly referred to as UNRWA. Philippe has held this position since early 2020. Before this, he was Deputy UN Special Coordinator (UNSCOL) and the UN Coordinator for Lebanon. Jamie and Philippe speak about the crisis in Gaza. Phili
Robert Mardini: ICRC, Gaza, Sudan, & The Humanitarian System
Host Jamie McGoldrick speaks with Robert Mardini who has a long, distinguished career in the humanitarian sector. He was part of the International Committee of the Red Cross, the ICRC, for close to three decades. He rose to the position of Director General in 2020. Mardini served in that position until March of this year. His next role begins in September when he will serve as Director General of
Jamie McGoldrick & Larry Hollingworth On State Of Humanitarian Sector
Host Jamie McGoldrick speaks with Larry Hollingworth. Jamie served as the Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory on an interim basis from January through early April. Larry is a visiting professor for the IIHA with an extensive resume. He spent decades with the UN after a career with the British Army, serving as a Coordinator in several places including Iraq, Lebanon, and
Crisis In Gaza
Host Jamie McGoldrick speaks with Larry Hollingworth. Jamie served as the Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory on an interim basis from January through early April. Larry is a visiting professor for the IIHA with an extensive resume. He spent decades with the UN after a career with the British Army, serving as a Coordinator in several places including Iraq, Lebanon, and
Sudan & South Sudan With Dr. Francis Deng
Jamie McGoldrick speaks with Dr. Francis Deng. He has served in the United Nations as South Sudan's first independent ambassador and spent time as Special Adviser for the Prevention of Genocide. He’s also served as Ambassador of Sudan to Nordic Countries, Canada, and the United States and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs. Francis has written and edited dozens of books, including “War of Visio
Hunger Part 2 - Dr. Arif Husain, WFP
The second part of Jamie McGoldrick's conversation with Dr. Arif Husain, Chief Economist & Director of Research, Assessments & Monitoring Division at United Nations World Food at WFP. The conversation was recorded in late 2023. Jamie asks Dr. Husain how the WFP responds during conflicts, including the current one in Gaza. Jamie also asks about funding cuts which are forcing the organizatio
Hunger Part 1 - Dr. Arif Husain, WFP
Host Jamie McGoldrick speaks with Dr. Arif Husain, Chief Economist & Director of Research, Assessments & Monitoring Division at United Nations World Food at WFP. The conversation was recorded in late 2023. Jamie asks Dr. Husain how the WFP responds during conflicts, including the current one in Gaza. Jamie also asks about funding cuts which are forcing the organization to make difficult de
Climate Action: Andrew Harper
Jamie McGoldrick speaks with Andrew Harper, Special Advisor to the High Commissioner for Refugees on Climate Action at the United Nations. The conversation was recorded late in 2023. A big part of Andrew’s job is anticipating where climate shocks will happen so the UN has a plan in place ahead of time. He tells Jamie that climate events require a complex response, explaining that people can be dis
Israel / Gaza - Yuval Shany
Host Jamie McGoldrick speaks with Yuval Shany. He’s a lecturer in Public International Law at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and a Senior Fellow at the Israel Democracy Institute. He has published an essay titled “Unpacking Key Assumptions Underlying Legal Analyses of the 2023 Hamas-Israel War.” Jamie and Yuval spoke in early December about the conflict, with Yuval giving legal interpretation
Israel / Gaza - Tania Hary
Host Jamie McGoldrick speaks with Tania Hary, Executive Director at Gisha - Legal Center for Freedom of Movement, an Israeli not-for-profit organization which advocates for the freedom of movement of Palestinians. The conversation was recorded recently about the situation in Gaza. Tania says there’s a “deep trauma” in Israel about the attack on October 7th. She explains that views have hardened, w
Filippo Grandi
Host Jamie McGoldrick speaks with Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees. They start by discussing the situation in Gaza, with Jamie asking what is needed to help resolve the crisis there. The conversation touches on international and humanitarian law and the importance of upholding those principles. Jamie asks Grandi if he’s worried about humanitarians losing their relevance as more cr
Charles Petrie - Myanmar
Host Jamie McGoldrick speaks with Charles Petrie, a former UN assistant secretary general with more than three decades of experience in conflict and post-conflict settings. Charles’ book, The Triumph of Evil - The Rwanda Genocide and the Search for Justice, is based on his personal eye-witness accounts while working for the UN in the country during the genocide. It’s available on Amazon, at Barnes
Ross Mountain
Host Jamie McGoldrick speaks with Ross Mountain, a senior United Nations official who was a former emergency relief coordinator and a humanitarian coordinator in the Middle East. They discuss the difficult situation in Gaza, with humanitarians working to get life saving services to people in the area. Jamie and Ross also talk about the criticism directed towards the UN, including backlash from Isr
Reena Ghelani
Host Jamie McGoldrick speaks with Reena Ghelani, the United Nations Assistant Secretary-General, Famine Prevention and Response Coordinator. She has over two decades of experience in the humanitarian sector, spanning across Africa and the Middle East. Jamie asks Reena about the work being done to combat global hunger. Reena explains the main causes for food insecurity, with conflict and climate di
Sara Pantuliano of ODI
Host Jamie McGoldrick speaks with Sara Pantuliano, Chief Executive at ODI. The organization has their own podcast, Think Change, which discusses global issues fortnightly with leading experts. Sara is the Chair of the UN Secretary-General’s Seventh Advisory Group of the UN Peacebuilding Fund and a member of UNFPA’s ICPD25 High-Level Commission. She also serves on the High-Level Group on Humanitari
Ugochi Daniels on Migration
Host Jamie McGoldrick speaks with Ugochi Daniels, Deputy Director General for Operations at the International Organization for Migration in the UN. They discuss a wide variety of topics related to migration. Jamie asks her about the impact the invasion of Ukraine is having as people are pushed into different parts of Europe. There is a conversation about political difficulties, as countries change
Niger Coup & West Africa
Host Jamie McGoldrick speaks with Hannah Rae Armstrong, a writer and policy advisor with over a decade of field based experience in North Africa and the Sahel. Her work has been featured in the New York Times, Washington Post, and Le Monde. Jamie and Hannah spoke in late August about the coup in Niger and its impact on the region. Hannah does a great job of explaining the different parties involve
Dr Jemilah Mahmood
Host Jamie McGoldrick speaks with Dr. Jemilah Mahmood, Executive Director of the Sunway Centre for Planetary Health. She’s also had an extensive career in crisis management, which includes time at the United Nations and as an advisor to the Prime Minister of Malaysia. Jamie and Jemilah discussed crises in southeast Asia and the responses to those crises. He asked her about the situation in Myanmar
David Beasley
Host Jamie McGoldrick speaks with David Beasley. He served as the Executive Director of the World Food Programme from 2017 until April 2023, and he’s had a long career in U.S. politics which includes over a decade in Congress. David was the head of the WFP when it won a Nobel Peace Prize in 2020. The conversation focuses on the growing challenges in getting food to hungry people around the world.
Afghanistan
Host Jamie McGoldrick speaks with Afghan journalist Zahra Joya, who was named one of Time’s Women of the Year in 2022. She created Rukhshana Media in November 2020, the publication covers women’s issues in Afghanistan including reproductive health, sexual violence, and gender discrimination. Jamie speaks with her about the humanitarian crisis in the nation as the Taliban places restrictions on wha
Rohingya Refugee Crisis
Host Jamie McGoldrick speaks with Arjun Jain, UN Principle Coordinator for the Rohingya Refugee Response, about conditions in Cox’s Bazar. The location is the site of the largest refugee camp in the world with more than 1 million Rohingya refugees. Arjun provides an overview of the situation. He gives honest answers about what’s gone right in the aid response and what needs to be better. Jamie ask
Niger
Host Jamie McGoldrick speaks with Louise Aubin, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Niger. She gives an outlook on the humanitarian crisis in the country. Aubin tells Jamie that violence and displacement are two of the main challenges, with those displaced heavily reliant on assistance. She says education is a top priority, and she discusses working with the government to build out resources fo
Sudan
Host Jamie McGoldrick speaks with Alex de Waal. He is the Executive Director of the World Peace Foundation and a research professor at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. He is, most recently, co-author of “Sudan’s Unfinished Democracy: The promise and betrayal of a people’s revolution” (Hurst 2022). Jamie asks him about the conflict in Sudan. Alex describes how the two sides grew into this
Gabriella Waaijman
Host Jamie McGoldrick speaks with Gabriella Waaijman, Global Humanitarian Director of Save the Children. They discuss a variety of topics on the humanitarian sector, including how aid work has evolved over the last several decades. Gabriella explains that while there have been improvements, there is a lack of input from local organizations. She talks about how Save the Children is partnering with
Haiti
Host Jamie McGoldrick speaks with Ulrika Richardson, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Haiti. They discuss the complex and difficult situation in the country. The United Nations has reported an increase in violence, with more than 600 people killed in and around the capital, Port-Au-Prince, in April. Ulrika explains what’s prompting the violence and the discussions happening to try and b
David Rieff
Host Jamie McGoldrick speaks with journalist and policy analyst David Rieff, author of the seminal 2003 book A Bed For The Night. That book, and those that followed, prompted the humanitarian sector to reflect on their work and how it could be improved. Jamie speaks with David about his analysis of the humanitarian space and how it has evolved. They also discuss the United Nations, its strengths a
Adam Abdelmoula on the Humanitarian Response in Somalia
Host Jamie McGoldrick speaks with Adam Abdelmoula, UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Somalia. Adam gives an overview of the crisis in the country, with climate shocks and conflict creating a difficult environment. There are millions of people, including children, who are in desperate need of life saving assistance. After several years of poor rainy seasons, food insecurity is
Jeremy Konyndyk, President of Refugees International
Host Jamie McGoldrick speaks with Jeremy Konyndyk, President of Refugees International. They go over a variety of issues in the humanitarian space. Jeremy discusses major changes he would like to see in the system, arguing local groups need a bigger seat at the table with how donor dollars are used. Jamie and Jeremy talk about current crises, including Ukraine and Yemen, and how crises today are l
Suzanna Tkalec on the Humanitarian Response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Host Jamie McGoldrick speaks with Suzanna Tkalec, Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator for the Democratic Republic of the Congo since July 2021. She discusses the current crisis in the eastern provinces and the challenges humanitarians face in the region. Suzanna gives an overview of the different armed groups battling in the area, including M23, and efforts to bring much needed security and stability.
West Bank & Gaza
Host Jamie McGoldrick speaks with members of Palestinian human rights organizations on issues in the region. Tensions are high between Palestians and Israelis with a noted uptick in violence in the West Bank since the start of the year. The escalation in violence in the West Bank coincides with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returning to power with an ultra right wing coalition. There are fears
Hugo Slim on Crises Today, Climate Change, and the Evolution of the Humanitarian Sector
Host Jamie McGoldrick speaks with Hugo Slim, Senior Research Fellow at the Las Casas Institute for Social Justice, Blackfriars Hall, University of Oxford, on a wide range of topics. They discuss crises in Haiti, Afghanistan, and Ukraine, and the challenges in providing assistance to those countries. Hugo talks about how humanitarian aid has grown over the last several decades, describing the posit
Julien Harneis On The Humanitarian Response In Pakistan
Host Jamie McGoldrick talks with Julien Harneis, Humanitarian Coordinator in Pakistan, about efforts to provide aid to a country dealing with climate disasters and skyrocketing prices. Floods in the nation have devastated and uprooted millions of people. The value of Pakistan’s currency has fallen dramatically. Citizens are paying more for basic goods, with the cost of petrol and diesel continuing
Denise Brown On The Humanitarian Response in Ukraine
Host Jamie McGoldrick talks with Denise Brown, UN Resident Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine, about efforts to provide aid with war in the country. Denise speaks candidly about the crisis and what humanitarian aid workers are experiencing as they respond in the region. She outlines challenges aid workers face in getting access to certain areas and talks about dealing with criticism and misinform
Jan Egeland on The Humanitarian Imperative Today
The humanitarian sector is facing challenging crises all over the globe. Host Jamie McGoldrick speaks with Jan Egeland, Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council, about the difficulty in responding and adapting to these crises. They discuss the political and climate obstacles humanitarian aid is dealing with, and they talk about working with donors to get support.
Message From Host Jamie McGoldrick
Host Jamie McGoldrick lays out his goals for the podcast ahead of its launch date on January 24th. Jamie spent decades working in the humanitarian field, and while there’s been progress, he believes there needs to be change. Jamie’s looking for answers to the difficult questions facing the humanitarian world. Why are some of these crises now terminal? Why is it left to humanitarians to address chr
