People’s Lives Matter Most
I’m thinking of the refugees I met as they crossed the border into Iraq, after the newfound crisis in North East Syria that began on 9 October 2019. It’s been one month since I accompanied Medair health teams who are responding to the health needs of incoming...
Fighting COVID-19 with information
“Is it true that it makes people suddenly drop dead?” “Is it true that drinking lemon juice will kill the virus?” I could see the concern in the eyes of my fellow staff as they shared the rumors that were spreading like wildfire. As the COVID-19 virus was moving into...
We are all created equal
Medair has worked for over 30 years in the most difficult places in the world to support and stand with vulnerable people of every background. Today, we stand grieving in the face of the effects of the racial injustices that have, for too long, plagued the world....
Yemen: A Crisis Within a Crisis
In recent years, news headlines have been inundated with complex crises; from Ebola in West and Central Africa, to the Syrian Crisis as refugees spilled into Jordan, Lebanon and further abroad and now, Covid-19. Yet, while rarely visible on the front pages, the...
Happiness is care, exchanged.
In the last six months, Lebanon has faced several shocks. In October, protests over the deteriorating economic situation gripped the country. Later, the Lebanese banks imposed controls on access to US dollars and the Lebanese Pounds lost value against the US Dollar....
How will history mark the COVID-19 pandemic?
The COVID-19 virus will spread further, infect and kill more people, and stay with us longer if we do not join forces across all boundaries. We must rise above borders, religions, and ideologies. In particular, we must not forget those who don’t garner headlines; who...
Yes, these crises are (still) emergencies.
When we initially started putting this story together, back in January, we aimed to raise awareness on emergencies that are still unfolding, but are too often left out of headlines. Little did we know what a different place the world would be just a few weeks later....
A common reality that connects the world
It is startling to see how much life has changed here in Cox’s Bazar in just a few short weeks. Streets usually bustling with life are suddenly empty. Few, if any, of the ubiquitous green rickshaws are to be found, and Cox’s Bazar’s sandy beach – a popular destination...
CEO Update: Aiding the vulnerable during COVID-19
The best piece of advice I’ve received during the pandemic came from a friend who said you should navigate this crisis by being yourself. Be consistently and radically human. Prepare yourself to thrive in a new tomorrow through flexibility, nimbleness, innovation,...
Because of the mountain, we survived
Aishan, a 52-year-old widow, motioned for us to sit down after we entered her uncle’s home in a village south of Sinjar town. There were two cushioned mats, typical in homes within the region. One mat lay along the exterior wall, and the other directly across...