Heba, a multimedia journalist who spent years reporting from conflict zones, is the director of the New Humanitarian, an independent media outlet at the service of all those affected by humanitarian crisis around the world. Heba will share her critical insights on how the pandemic has exacerbated humanitarian crises and what it means for the world. In addition, she will express her views on the future of media and its role in society.

KEY TAKE-AWAY

  • As in many other domains, so too with respect to humanitarian crises, the pandemic has exacerbated pre-existing problems. The impact of COVID-19 has been widespread, deep and complex with a layering of one crisis over another in very diverse contexts. It has fed on pre-existing failings and comes with long-term implications and consequences.
  • Cases of food insecurity and hunger have increased (although the apocalyptic famine predicted has, to date, been avoided). But this is occurring in a pre-COVID context of over 600 million already suffering from some form of food insecurity worldwide. The risk is particularly high in many African countries beset by conflict.
  • COVID all but halted conflict resolution. And this in an environment where multilateralism and globalization were already faltering. The resultant ‘fraying peace deals’ have dramatic humanitarian consequences. The origins of 80% of all humanitarian crises lie in unresolved conflicts. (e.g. the escalating civil unrest and conflict in Ethiopia could result in a Balkan-like break up in Africa’s second most populous nation with the contingent devastation caused by mass migration and famine.)
  • COVID related pressure on domestic finances means international overseas aid looks likely to decrease this year by 20% (the UK reduction in its aid budget could be a precursor of others). These financial reasons combined with other more structural and ethical ones suggest that the UN led ‘old humanitarian aid model’ is probably reaching its limits.
  • A multinational system with neo-colonial roots is ill-matched to deal with trans-national problems – many of which are not one offs but ongoing crises. Furthermore, the erstwhile champion of the system (the democratic West) is itself ‘falling into crisis’ – albeit more in the guise of failing social contracts and human rights. It is, however, no longer relevant to make a binary distinction between such failings and other humanitarian crises. A new solution, more locally owned, more anticipatory and focussed on investment, rather than the ‘parachuting’ in of short- term assistance is needed. Only like this can there be any hope of an adequate response to the widespread and major humanitarian crises that climate change is and will continue to provoke.
  • The private sector has a role to play in this new model, not only in terms of financial support but significantly through know-how and technological contributions. The humanitarian sector does not need to re-invent the wheel with respect to data management, supply chains and CRMs when Mastercard, Unilever and Salesforce are prepared to share their expertise. Private business can also trail blazer in changing mindsets, for example adopting the direct employment of immigrants and asylum seekers. However, scepticism persists as to the alignment of profit with humanitarian intentions.
  • In a single year the pandemic has wiped out decades of progress in terms of women and girls’ rights (access to education, health care, financial independence etc). There have been dramatic increases in gender-based violence, child marriage, unwanted pregnancies and prostitution. Malnutrition, immunisation and reproductive medical services have been de-prioritized (and under-funded – both International aid and diaspora remittances declined during the COVID crisis). Women and children are the most frequent victims of this unravelling.