Philippe Lazzarini has ended his term as head of UNRWA, the UN agency that provides essential services to Palestinians. In an exit interview, Lazzarini describes "the most brutal experience" of his career, his anger when atrocities are met with silence, and the "slippery slope" waiting for humanitarians in Gaza.

Guest:

Philippe Lazzarini, departing commissioner-general of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)

Got a question or feedback? Email podcast@thenewhumanitarian.org or post on social media using the hashtag #RethinkingHumanitarianism.

There's more than one way to cover crises, says Professor Martin Scott. In the second episode of Decolonise How?, host Patrick Gathara sits down with Scott, who studies media and global development, to discuss the ethics, practice, and impact of media coverage of crises. Scott popularised the term "humanitarian journalism". He explains what makes it different from mainstream journalism, and why the labels matter.

Decolonise How? is a new podcast by The New Humanitarian that examines the stories we tell about humanitarian crises.

"The first place that people are dehumanised is in stories." - Sophie Otiende

The way we tell stories about humanitarian crises can distort the realities of the people living through them. From news coverage and research to aid donation appeals, there is a tendency to simplify, decontextualise, and even dehumanise – to portray locals as suffering and helpless, and the outsiders riding to their rescue as heroic and selfless.

In Decolonise How? host Patrick Gathara brings together journalists, humanitarians, researchers, and affected communities, to understand why this happens, and how to change it.

For his first podcast, Gathara is joined by Kenyan teacher, activist and advocate for survivors of human trafficking, Sophie Otiende, and Kelsie Kilawna Marchand, a Syilx journalist from Canada. They discuss community, consent, what to do differently – and just what is a "coyote" move?

Decolonise How? is a new podcast by The New Humanitarian that examines the stories we tell about humanitarian crises.

Is it problematic to call human suffering a "tragedy"? Even well-intentioned humanitarian language can harm, says Heidi Mogstad, senior researcher at the Chr. Michelsen Institute in Norway. She argues that the language humanitarians use can perpetuate systems of violence that cause crises. In this episode, Mogstad gives examples of counter-productive language, and discusses ways to improve.

Guests:

Heidi Mogstad, senior researcher at the Chr. Michelsen Institute in Norway.

Got a question or feedback? Email podcast@thenewhumanitarian.org or post on social media using the hashtag #RethinkingHumanitarianism.

Show Notes:

Oppressive Language and Humanitarian Complicity: Reflections on Gaza and European Border Violence

Decolonise How? is a new podcast by The New Humanitarian that examines the stories we tell about humanitarian crises.

Join host Patrick Gathara as he gathers journalists, humanitarians, researchers, and affected communities into the same conversation. They debate the crisis in crisis reporting – and talk about how things could be done differently.

AI and new tech in crises: When is technology a force for good, and when are we piling on the problems in humanitarian response? In this episode, experts unpack why technology is never neutral, the fallback on "techno-utopian" solutions, and the risk of "techno-colonialism" and why it matters.

Guests:

Mirca Madianou, professor in the School of Media, Communications and Cultural Studies at Goldsmiths, University of London, and author of "Technocolonialism: When Technology for Good is Harmful".

Nathaniel Raymond, executive director of the Humanitarian Research Lab at the Yale School of Public Health.

Rana F. Sweis, journalist and founder and managing director of WishBox Media.

Got a question or feedback? Email podcast@thenewhumanitarian.org or post on social media using the hashtag #RethinkingHumanitarianism.

Humanitarians have a "burnout culture", experts say. They work long hours in difficult environments. They're trying to help people in the worst moments of their lives. In the middle of today's funding crisis, they're also deciding who gets aid and who does not. In this episode, humanitarians and experts in mental health or wellbeing talk about what's driving high rates of burnout, how people can identify it and take action, and what organisations must do better to help their staff.

Guests:

Javid Abdelmoneim, international president of Médecins Sans Frontières

Nancy Nyambura, regional staff counsellor at Médecins Sans Frontières

Gemma Houldey, author of The Vulnerable Humanitarian: Ending Burnout Culture in the Aid Sector

Got a question or feedback? Email podcast@thenewhumanitarian.org or post on social media using the hashtag #RethinkingHumanitarianism.

Show notes:

The Vulnerable Humanitarian: Ending Burnout Culture in the Aid Sector

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0010440X24000920

Myanmar's persecuted Rohingya community are waiting for justice. A landmark genocide case at the International Court of Justice is a major step. In this episode, Noor Azizah, a survivor who heads a Rohingya civil society group, tells her family's story of being driven from their homeland. She explains why today's Rohingya trial paved the way for other atrocity crime cases, and discusses humanitarians' complex role delivering aid in Myanmar.

Guests:

Noor Azizah, co-executive director of the Rohingya Maìyafuìnor Collaborative Network

Got a question or feedback? Email podcast@thenewhumanitarian.org or post on social media using the hashtag #RethinkingHumanitarianism.

Show notes:

The Rohingya: The exodus isn't over