Podcast appearances and mentions of mark lowcock

As world leaders flock to New York this week for the 79th UN General Assembly, Emma Nelson talks to Julie Norman and Mark Lowcock to discuss how the crisis in the Middle East will affect the proceedings. Plus: we find out what the election results might mean for Sri Lanka's economic future and check in at Milan Fashion Week.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our guests, Mark Lowcock and Nabila Ramdani, discuss the latest from Gaza, the UN's vote on Srebrenica genocide memorial day, how the Rwanda plan could affect the UK's general election and Bark Air's inaugural flight. Plus: a letter from Baden-Baden.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mark Lowcock and Caroline Frost discuss Israel's strike on World Central Kitchen and the risky work of humanitarian organisations. We also explore whether Ukraine will get enough funding to hold the frontline, why Botswana's threat to send Germany 20,000 elephants is nothing to laugh about, and why the moon is about to get its own time zone. Plus: The death of Jesse James on this day in 1882.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our guests Nadine Batchelor-Hunt and Mark Lowcock discuss the trouble of getting aid into Gaza and the forgotten crises of Sudan and Tigray, Ethiopia. Then: a study on the differences between men's and women's brains. Plus: we hear from Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and get the latest on the 50 people implicated in a former Haitian leader's assassination. xSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Monocle's Andrew Mueller is joined by panellists Annette Dittert and Mark Lowcock to discuss Israel's “second stage” war strategy, the EU's debate over using frozen Russian assets in Ukraine and the humanitarian situation in the Horn of Africa. Plus: is venting good for you? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Daniella Peled and Mark Lowcock on the latest humanitarian efforts in Gaza, as Israel intensifies its bombardments. We also ask what the media shift to the Israel-Hamas conflict has meant for Ukraine. Plus: Donald Trump's day in court and Amsterdam rejoices as it successfully drives away British tourists.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Reporter Cian McCormack speaks to Aymen Shaheen, an Irish citizen hoping to leave Gaza through the Rafah border crossing, and Mark Lowcock, senior fellow with the Centre for Global Development and former head of humanitarian affairs at the United Nations, on the humanitarian challenges facing Gaza.

EU enlargement returns to the top of the political agenda. Our Balkans correspondent has the latest on the Bled Strategic Forum in Slovenia. Plus: Lynne O'Donnell and Mark Lowcock discuss diplomatic engagement with the Taliban, the UN's successful operation to avert a catastrophic oil spill off the coast of Yemen and the decision to ban e-scooters in Paris.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Conflict, climate change, COVID and other diseases are what contributes to humanitarian suffering. And so you have to address the causes of those problems if you want to see the number of people suffering for as well as providing immediate help to the people to get them through until the causes can be addressed,” explains Mark Lowcock, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator from May 2017 through June 2021. Prior to his appointment in the UN, he served as the permanent secretary for the United Kingdom's Department of International Development. Mark has spent 35 years leading responses to humanitarian crises across the globe. He was twice awarded medals by Queen Elizabeth II for services to international development and public service, including reaching Knighthood in 2017. Recently, Mark authored a book titled Relief Chief: A Manifesto for Saving Lives in Dire Times. Today, he joins host Tiffany Zehara to talk about how humanitarian crises are handled and how ordinary everyday people can get involved. The humanitarian crises afflicting the global population today are mostly caused by conflict, climate change, and the COVID-19 pandemic. There are so many wonderful agencies helping to provide resources to those most negatively impacted by these crises, however, due to the sheer quantity of agencies they often are in competition with one another for resources. Most of the issues overlap and so it is important for agencies to determine how they can collaborate in order to effectively tackle these humanitarian crises. No one agency can fix everything on its own. Another issue comes from the fact that these organizations largely treat the symptoms rather than getting to the root cause. An example would be feeding someone who is starving without addressing the reason why they are unable to access or afford food. Situations can only improve if and when the root causes are addressed, yet the bulk of efforts are typically put into short term rescue solutions.  There are many ways to get involved in making an impact on humanitarian crises across the globe. Aside from getting involved with the many pre-existing organizations providing aid, there is also the option to get involved at the government level by talking to your representatives. Tune into today's episode of Humanitarian Entrepreneur Podcast for a talk with special guest Mark Lowcock about how to save lives in dire times.  Quotes  “The way this system has been created is that there are lots and lots of agencies, lots of UN agencies, the Red Cross family, 1000s of NGOs, and to some degree, they are both collaborating with each other. But they're also competing with each other for resources and donors in particular, and to some degree, they have overlapping mandates.” (7:21-7:44 | Mark) “A good outcome is not that one agency gets all the money, because no one agency can fix the problem. A good outcome is where there's enough money for everybody to spread in the fair way as possible.” (9:19-9:30 | Mark) “Conflict, climate change, COVID and other diseases are what contributes to humanitarian suffering. And so you have to address the causes of those problems if you want to see the number of people suffering for as well as providing immediate help to the people to get them through until the causes can be addressed.” (12:13-12:31 | Mark) “If you just address symptoms and not causes, don't be surprised if things keep getting worse.” (21:17-21:22 | Mark)  “One of the ways in which people caught up in humanitarian crises are stripped of their humanity is by losing their ability to control and determine things in their own lives. And if you can give people cash that gives them some of that dignity and freedom and humanity back.” (23:40-23:56 | Mark) “Empathy grows, actually curiously, when our own challenges grow.” (30:07-30:13 | Mark)   Connect with Mark Lowcock: Book: https://bookshop.org/a/54969/9781944691097 A Japanese program discussing famine: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/tv/directtalk/20220930/2058949/ To connect with Tiffany to solve problems or affect the kind of change you want: https://calendly.com/humanitarianentrepreneur/discovery-call Website:  https://humanitarian-entrepreneur.com  Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

The latest on Vladimir Putin's call for an Orthodox Christmas ceasefire in Ukraine. Latika Bourke and Mark Lowcock discuss coronavirus tests for travellers from China, Estonia's plans to give frozen Russian assets to Ukraine, a new dynamic for the UN security council and the “nano-flat” in Shanghai where you can sit on the toilet and cook at the same time. Plus: Andrew Mueller looks back on the Prague Spring, On This Day in 1968.

Mark Lowcock and Terry Stiastny ask why some humanitarian disasters are overlooked. Plus, the UK's Labour party calls for House of Lords reform, Chris Cermak on Ukraine's cultural diplomacy and the public's choice for word of the year: “goblin mode”.

Le porte-parole de OCHA en RDC, Yvon Edoumou, revient sur la visite du Coordonateur humanitaire de l'ONU, Mark Lowcock en RDC.    (Extrait sonore :   Yvon Edoumou,  porte-parole de OCHA en RDC; propos recueillis par Suzanne Nzobo Odra Radio Okapi)

The State of Humanitarian Assistance with Sir Mark LowcockCrisis. Conflict. Emergency Management Podcast Join us for global perspectives and conversations about international crisis, preparedness, and how to build more resilient societies in a challenging and ever-changing world. As the world moves to reduce the risk of global threats, we need to recognize the vulnerabilities, connectivity, and perspectives that drive instability. Join us for international conversations addressing key challenges and risks that undermine our efforts to build more resilient societies. This podcast is brought to you by Capacity Building International (CBI) and sponsored by The International Emergency Management Society (TIEMS). In our next episode we are joined by Sir Mark Andrew Lowcock, a British economist and accountant who served as the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator (the head of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) between 2017 and 2021. Prior to his appointment in May 2017, he was the Permanent Secretary of the Department for International Development (DFID). He is currently a Visiting Professor in Practice at the Department of International Development at the London School of Economics and a Distinguished Non-Resident Fellow at the Center for Global Development in Washington, DC. He is also a Trustee/Director of The Howard Partnership Trust, a multi-academy trust of schools (including for children with learning disabilities) in Surrey. Sir Lowcock's new book "Relief Chief: A Manifesto for Saving Lives in Dire Times" can be found here: https://www.amazon.com/Relief-Chief-Manifesto-Saving-Lives/dp/194469109X Sir Lowcock's Twitter account: https://twitter.com/sirmarklowcock This podcast is brought to you in partnership between Capacity Building International (CBI) and The International Emergency Management Society (TIEMS). You can join TIEMS today at www.tiems.info and also sign up for the International Emergency Management newsletter by CBI at www.capacitybuildingint.com. Is there a topic you would like to hear about? Or are you a functional expert and want to be featured on our show? Reach out to us at info at capacitybuildingint.com and let us know!

The State of Humanitarian Assistance with Sir Mark LowcockCrisis. Conflict. Emergency Management Podcast Join us for global perspectives and conversations about international crisis, preparedness, and how to build more resilient societies in a challenging and ever-changing world. As the world moves to reduce the risk of global threats, we need to recognize the vulnerabilities, connectivity, and perspectives that drive instability. Join us for international conversations addressing key challenges and risks that undermine our efforts to build more resilient societies. This podcast is brought to you by Capacity Building International (CBI) and sponsored by The International Emergency Management Society (TIEMS). In our next episode we are joined by Sir Mark Andrew Lowcock, a British economist and accountant who served as the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator (the head of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) between 2017 and 2021. Prior to his appointment in May 2017, he was the Permanent Secretary of the Department for International Development (DFID). He is currently a Visiting Professor in Practice at the Department of International Development at the London School of Economics and a Distinguished Non-Resident Fellow at the Center for Global Development in Washington, DC. He is also a Trustee/Director of The Howard Partnership Trust, a multi-academy trust of schools (including for children with learning disabilities) in Surrey. Sir Lowcock's new book "Relief Chief: A Manifesto for Saving Lives in Dire Times" can be found here: https://www.amazon.com/Relief-Chief-Manifesto-Saving-Lives/dp/194469109X Sir Lowcock's Twitter account: https://twitter.com/sirmarklowcock This podcast is brought to you in partnership between Capacity Building International (CBI) and The International Emergency Management Society (TIEMS). You can join TIEMS today at www.tiems.info and also sign up for the International Emergency Management newsletter by CBI at www.capacitybuildingint.com. Is there a topic you would like to hear about? Or are you a functional expert and want to be featured on our show? Reach out to us at info at capacitybuildingint.com and let us know!

Sir Mark Lowcock, former United Nations Under‑Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, discusses the role of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and his new book Relief Chief: A Manifesto for Saving Lives in Dire Times.As the “relief chief” his main responsibility was to coordinate the work of major humanitarian agencies, such as the International Red Cross, UNICEF and the UN Refugee Agency, to effectively streamline the delivery of humanitarian services to people affected by natural or human-made disasters, such as war in Ukraine or famine in the Horn of Africa.  The major causes of disasters include climate change, wars, ethnic conflict, genocide, corruption and food insecurity. He focused on four major areas: invest in causes of a disaster and not deal with symptoms—populations should be helped to become more self-sufficient;  many crises, such as a drought in the Horn of Africa or a hurricane in the Caribbean, are predictable and able to be anticipated and prepared for; need to work more diligently with certain groups that are most vulnerable, namely women and girls; most relief decisions are made by the donors and humanitarian agencies, but not the impacted populations that should have input into the decision-making process.

In this episode, we interview Sir Mark Lowcock, the former United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, about the possibility of the world's second famine in the 21st century. We discuss the factors driving the current food crisis and what steps nations can take now to avoid millions of people starving by next year. Lowcock is currently a Visiting Professor in Practice at the Department of International Development at the London School of Economics and a Distinguished Non-Resident Fellow at the Center for Global Development in Washington, DC. He is the author of Relief Chief: A Manifesto for Saving Lives in Dire Times. We then discuss all the developments from the last week with China: the Biden-Xi call, Pelosi's potential trip to Taiwan, and the passage of the CHIPs Act in Congress. We discuss the significance of these events and what they mean for US relations with China.Also, on the show, we talk about Europe's energy crisis and the latest developments as the continent struggles to prepare for winter.Topics Discussed in this EpisodeUS-China Relations - 04:00European Energy Crisis - 29:00Interview with Sir Mark Lowcock - 41:50Articles and Resources Mentioned in EpisodeUS-China RelationsCooperation with China: Challenges and opportunities (The Atlantic Council)What Does the Pelosi Taiwan Uproar Mean for U.S. China Policy? (Foreign Policy)What Is the U.S. “One China” Policy, and Why Does it Matter? (CSIS)America takes on China with a giant microchips bill (The Economist)European Energy Crisis: Winter is Coming Part DeuxEurope's gas crisis is here (Vox)Europe's Race to Secure New Energy Sources Is on a Knife's Edge (NYT)France's nuclear plants are going down for repairs (The Economist)What Are the Kremlin's Calculations in Its Gas War With Europe? (Carnegie Foundation)Interview with Sir Mark LowcockRelief Chief: A Manifesto for Saving Lives in Dire TimesWhat's in the Ukraine Grain Deal for Russia? (Carnegie Foundation)Follow UsShow Website: www.kelloggsglobalpolitics.comShow Twitter: @GlobalKelloggShow YouTube:Anita's Twitter: https://twitter.com/arkelloggAnita's Website:https://www.anitakellogg.com/Anita's email: anita@kelloggsglobalpolitics.comRyan's email: ryan@kelloggsglobalpolitics.com

Food prices are soaring around the world, and along with it so are rates of food insecurity and the risk of famine.  As my guest today, Sir Mark Lowcock explains, this is only partly due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which exacerbated an already worsening situation. Mark Lowcock is a Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the Center for Global Development and author of the new book Relief Chief: A Manifesto for Saving Lives in Dire Times. He served as the top United Nations humanitarian official from 2017 to 2021 and prior to that had a long career in the British government, including as the top civil servant in the Department for International Development. We kick off discussing what we know about the worst global food crisis in several decades before having a broader conversation about its causes, consequences -- and specific actions that can be taken to prevent this crisis from getting worse.    

In the wake of wars, climate change, and scarce resources, Sir Mark Lowcock, a former U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, talks about the strategies and systems needed to combat a potential food crisis around the globe. About Sir Mark Lowcock: https://www.cgdev.org/expert/mark-lowcockHis book, Relief Chief: A Manifesto for Saving Lives in Dire Times:https://www.amazon.com/Relief-Chief-Manifesto-Saving-Lives-ebook/dp/B099PZ153T/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=Music:Opening Theme Music by Brandon Duke"In This Together" by Humans Win (licensed through Storyblocks)Produced by Karkata Media LLC in association with Perspicacity Media LLC.Copyright 2022, Karkata Media LLC.

Visita a Kiev y reunión con Zelenski de tres de los grandes líderes europeos, Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz y Mario Draghi. Huelga general en Túnez. ¿Quién es Paul Kagame, el presidente de Ruanda? Hablamos sobre el nuevo libro del ex Secretario General Adjunto de Asuntos Humanitarios de la ONU, Mark Lowcock, con este británico que ha estado presente en algunas de las grandes tragedias humanitarias del planeta. Y conocemos Bucaramanga, la ciudad en la que el candidato a la presidencia de Colombia, Rodolfo Hernández, es un ídolo. Escuchar audio

As the former head of humanitarian relief for the United Nations, Mark Lowcock has seen the best and worst of humanity. It was his job to coordinate aid and rally international support for people caught in the world's most desperate crises. Now that he's left that post, he's reflecting on what he's learned in a new book called Relief Chief: A Manifesto for Saving Lives in Dire Times.

Humanitarian organizations do their jobs well in times of crisis. Be it crisis born from conflict, famine, climate change, or natural disasters, the humanitarian sector knows how to respond to people's needs when they are in need. Mark Lowcock suggests that despite this great work on the ground, it almost always takes shape as reactions to crisis, rather than prevention of crisis. With 35 years of humanitarian experience, Mark Lowcock's forthcoming book "Relief Chief" makes the case that global humanitarian efforts need to work on preventing crisis. It requires accepting the challenges of a new paradigm of humanitarian emergencies and by ensuring that the needs of those in crisis are heard and responded to with appropriate care and compassion. Mark's new book is titled "Relief Chief: A Manifesto for Saving Lives in Dire Times. Mark Lowcock was appointed United Nations Under‑Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator in May 2017 and served in that role until June 2021. He was previously Permanent Secretary of the United Kingdom's Department for International Development. As one of the most distinguished international public servants, Lowcock has spent more than 35 years leading and managing responses to humanitarian crises across the globe. He has authored opinion articles for The Washington Post, Financial Times, The Guardian, The Times, Le Monde, CNN, and others. He was twice awarded medals by Queen Elizabeth II for services to international development and public service, including Knighthood in 2017. He is a Visiting Professor of Practice in the Department of International Development at the London School of Economics and a Distinguished Non-Resident Fellow at the Center for Global Development. Follow Dr. Bob on Twitter: @ProfessorHuish

We hear the latest as Russia captures Europe's largest power plant in Ukraine; we report from the border with Romania as thousands continue to flee; and discuss humanitarian efforts with former UN official Mark Lowcock. Plus: the EU's fiscal rules with Anna Rosenberg.

The unprecedented rise in people requiring humanitarian assistance will continue unless countries collaborate better to combat conflict, climate change and disease, including COVID-19. That's the firm belief of the UN's top aid official, Mark Lowcock, who leaves this week after four years heading its Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). He spoke in depth to UN News's Dianne Penn. Music credit: Ketsa, ‘Wounds'

Ethiopia's ambassador to the UN says Eritrean troops who have been fighting in Ethiopia's northern region of Tigray will leave soon.Taye Atske Sellasie Made says it was a matter of sorting out some technical and procedural issues regarding when they could leave.The ambassador says there was a commitment from the Ethiopian government and the Eritreans are very clear as well.UN humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock says no one should be surprised to see a rerun of the 1984 devastating famine if violence does not stop and the Eritrean troops do not withdraw.

Ningún país ha logrado la inmunidad de grupo frente al COVID-19, advierte la Organización Panamericana de la Salud. La crisis en Venezuela continuará más allá de la pandemia, asegura Mark Lowcock, el coordinador de la Ayuda Humanitaria de las Naciones Unidas. Las remesas que envían los migrantes a América Latina crecieron en 2020 a pesar de la pandemia, según un informe del Banco Mundial. El uso de las cesáreas sigue aumentando en todo el mundo y ya supone más de uno de cada cinco nacimientos. 

The unprecedented rise in people requiring humanitarian assistance will continue unless countries collaborate better to combat conflict, climate change and disease, including COVID-19. That's the firm belief of the UN's top aid official, Mark Lowcock, who leaves this week after four years heading its Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). He spoke in depth to UN News's Dianne Penn.

Le secrétaire général adjoint des Nations unies aux Affaires humanitaires et coordinateur des secours d'urgence depuis 2017, quitte son poste de l'ONU. L'occasion de faire un point avec lui sur les dossiers humanitaires du continent africain, et en particulier, sur le Tigré. La semaine dernière, les membres du Conseil de séccurité ont échoué à se mettre d'accord cette semaine sur la tenue d'une réunion sur le sujet. Mark Lowcock répond aux questions de Carrie Nooten. RFI : la situation au Tigré est vraiment très inquiétante. Des infrastructures agricoles ont été détruites à Mekoui, vous avez prévenu que 91% de la population était en besoin d'aide alimentaire...  Mark Lowcock : la situation est alarmante, c'est la pire situation d'insécurité alimentaire que j'ai vue depuis plusieurs années. Certainement la pire depuis que cette famine terrible a coûté la vie de 250 000 Somaliens, il y a dix ans. Des centaines de milliers de gens dans le nord de l'Éthiopie vivent, selon moi, dans des conditions de famine. Nous cherchons de l'aide désespérément pour ces gens. Nous avons besoin de trois choses : d'abord, une réduction significative des hostilités et l'arrêt des blocages des agences des Nations unies, que ce soient les checkpoints ou autres. Deuxièmement, bien plus de travailleurs humanitaires, car le gouvernement n'a pas un contrôle total sur le Tigré, il y a des endroits où le gouvernement n'est plus là alors que les gens ont besoin d'aide. Il y a un vrai besoin de personnel international, là. Et troisièmement, on a besoin de bien plus d'argent. On aurait besoin de 850 millions de dollars pour éviter une tragédie cette année au Tigré. La moitié a été promise, mais rien n'a été versé encore. Comment la communauté internationale pourrait-elle faire plus de choses, comment aimeriez vous voir le Conseil de sécurité agir ?   En 2018, le Conseil de sécurité a passé une résolution nous demandant à moi et au secrétaire général de lui envoyer une note à chaque fois que nous penserions qu'un conflit pourrait amener à une situation d'insécurité alimentaire ou à la famine. Il y a deux semaines, nous avons envoyé cette note du Tigré aux membres du Conseil. Parce que la situation était complètement bloquée. C'est la quatrième fois que nous faisons ça. Jusqu'ici, à chaque fois ils s'étaient réunis, mais pas cette fois-ci.  Ce qu'ils pourraient faire, c'est appeler à la cessation des hostilités, à un accès plus facile aux agences d'aides, encourager les levées de fonds, et donner plus de place aux travailleurs humanitaires ; les gens seront obligés de les écouter, c'est le Conseil !   Cela nous ramène à des années très sombres de l'Éthiopie ; qu'est ce qui est en jeu pour le pays ?   Dans le cadre de mon premier travail au milieu des années 80, j'ai été amené à devoir intervenir sur la famine qui a tué plus d'un million de personnes. Je n'ai jamais oublié certaines des choses que j'ai vues à ce moment là. Ce n'est pas irrationnel de s'inquiéter que cela se répète. Tout ce que nous devons faire, c'est d'empêcher une tragédie colossale, parce que c'est une crise humanitaire qui aura des conséquences sur le Tigré, mais sur tout le pays et l'ensemble de la région aussi - et pour longtemps.  Est-ce que vous trouvez que les alertes données par les Nations unies, l'aide d'urgence, sont déployées assez rapidement ? Est-ce que vous voyez de nouvelles pistes pour pouvoir réagir de façon plus efficace ?  Oui, généralement, plus vite on sonne l'alarme, meilleures seront les réactions. On agite la sonnette d'alarme depuis six mois maintenant, avec ce qui arrive au Tigré, mais rien n'a été fait de façon suffisante. Et c'est pourquoi nous sommes aujourd'hui dans une situation extrêmement critique ; je n'avais jamais vu cela auparavant et je ne pense même pas que nous ayons connu une telle situation ces dix dernières années. Mark Lowcock, vous allez quitter votre rôle aux Nations unies dans deux semaines. Depuis le début de cette interview, on parle des mêmes problèmes que vous rencontrez dans chaque zone humanitaire. Que ressentez-vous ? Quittez-vous votre poste avec l'impression du travail bien fait ? Vous avez raison, durant mes années à l'ONU, le besoin d'aide humanitaire n'a fait que croître, surtout au Moyen Orient et en Afrique… c'est essentiellement parce que les causes des problèmes humanitaires, les conflits, le changement climatique et maintenant le Covid-19, n'ont pas été traitées correctement. On ne fait que de traiter les symptômes… Mais la bonne nouvelle, qui devrait réjouir tout le monde, c'est qu'on arrive encore à contenir la plupart de ces problèmes. On n'a pas eu de famine hors norme, qui aurait causé la mort de centaines de milliers ou de millions de gens comme cela aurait pu être le cas il y a 10, 15 ou 20 ans ! Il faut continuer à les contenir - les agences humanitaires répondent aux besoins de 100 millions de personnes chaque année. Pourtant ça ne cesse d'empirer. Mon message principal aux décideurs, c'est vraiment « Attaquez-vous aux causes », pas aux symptômes.

The United Nations urges international donors to pledge up to $10 billion on Tuesday to help Syrians fleeing a decade of civil war in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, saying that the need for humanitarian support has never been so great.The event hosted by the European Union will seek $4.2 billion for people inside Syria and $5.8 billion for refugees and their hosts in the Middle East.Some 24 million people need basic aid, a rise of four million over the past year and the highest number yet since a crackdown on pro-democracy protesters by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in 2011 led to civil war.U.N. aid chief Mark Lowcock says plummeting living conditions, economic decline and COVID-19 result in more hunger, malnutrition and disease. There is less fighting, but no peace dividend.

UN Roundup - Mark Lowcock steps down as UN’s Emergency Relief Chief by WRS

On this week's episode of World Review from the New Statesman, Jeremy Cliffe in Berlin and Emily Tamkin in Washington DC are joined by Mark Lowcock, the United Nations' Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator. They discuss how covid-19 has impacted the Global South, what aid should look like during this time, and whether societal institutions will survive the difficulties of 2020.Send us your You Ask Us questions at youaskus.co.uk.If you haven't signed up yet, visit newstatesman.com/subscribe to purchase your subscription. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The UN’s relief agency chief, Mark Lowcock, has the latest on Ethiopia’s Tigray crisis. Plus: Libya prepares to hold parliamentary elections, the day’s business news and Andrew Mueller reflects on the past seven days in the Monocle newsroom.

Chefe humanitário destaca que possível retorno de situações de fome seria imoral; Mark Lowcock defende que Covid-19 não deve ser pretexto para justificar essa situação. Uma parceria da Agência Radioweb e da Rádio ONU News.

Mark Lowcock leads global humanitarian relief efforts for the UN. Mark's optimism has sustained him throughout his 30-year career delivering aid to people suffering from war, poverty and famine. "One of the things I hold on to is most people on the planet have escaped from those problems, as the generations have passed. And when you're confronting the next bleak, horrible event, holding on to the fact that it's possible to escape…is invaluable.”

The UN's humanitarian chief on Tuesday warned that the spectre of famine has returned to war-torn Yemen and for the first time singled out Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait for giving nothing to this year's $3.4bn appeal for desperately needed aid. Mark Lowcock told the UN Security Council that famine in Yemen, the Arab world's poorest country, was averted two years ago because donors swiftly met 90 percent of the UN's funding requirements, enabling humanitarian agencies to increase monthly aid from eight million to 12 million people and save millions of lives. --- This episode is sponsored by · Afrolit Podcast: Hosted by Ekua PM, Afrolit shares the stories of multi-faceted Africans one episode at a time. https://open.spotify.com/show/2nJxiiYRyfMQlDEXXpzlZS?si=mmgODX3NQ-yfQvR0JRH-WA Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/newscast-africa/support

Coordenador de Assistência Humanitária, Mark Lowcock, disse aos países do G-20, o grupo das 20 maiores economias do mundo, que é preciso agir agora para evitar “série de tragédias” mais brutais e destrutivas que o próprio impacto do vírus. Uma parceria da Agência Radioweb e da Rádio ONU News.

The already dire situation in Yemen is getting worse as war and famine may be eclipsed by the spread of COVID-19 in the country. The United Nations predicts the death toll from the pandemic could be more than the combined deaths caused by the civil war and hunger that Yemen has struggled with for the past five years. FOX's Simon Owen speaks with Mark Lowcock, the UN's Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, about the disastrous situation in the country. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The already dire situation in Yemen is getting worse as war and famine may be eclipsed by the spread of COVID-19 in the country. The United Nations predicts the death toll from the pandemic could be more than the combined deaths caused by the civil war and hunger that Yemen has struggled with for the past five years. FOX's Simon Owen speaks with Mark Lowcock, the UN’s Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, about the disastrous situation in the country.

The United Nations has called the situation in Yemen the worst humanitarian crisis on earth. It’s the product of a five-year war, food shortages, widespread poverty and homelessness. And now, Yemen faces the coronavirus pandemic.  A virtual pledging conference Tuesday, co-hosted by the United Nations and Saudi Arabia, raised a little over half of its $2.4 billion goal — and half the amount pledged at last year’s conference. Aid group Save The Children called the amount “catastrophic.” The annual pledges support programs that bring food and clean water and medical assistance to Yemen. “COVID-19 is spreading throughout Yemen, and there are few signs that local authorities can handle the rising number of infections. Health facilities are turning people away because they're already full or they don't have what they need to treat people with the virus.”Mark Lowcock, UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator“COVID-19 is spreading throughout Yemen, and there are few signs that local authorities can handle the rising number of infections,” Mark Lowcock, the UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, told national representatives who gathered online Tuesday. “Health facilities are turning people away because they're already full or they don't have what they need to treat people with the virus.”Yemeni researchers and activists say the fundraising shortfall follows a pattern in which the war-torn country falls off the global agenda — particularly in light of the pandemic. Related: With test kits so scarce, doctors in Yemen are flying blind“There seems to be a [donor] fatigue over the situation in Yemen,” says Afrah Nasser, a researcher for Human Rights Watch. “Every government is just dealing with their own internal humanitarian situation in light of the COVID-19 crisis. So Yemen is just being forgotten all over again.” Nasser, herself a Yemeni working in exile, has watched her country disintegrate since fighting spread throughout the nation in 2015. “In the course of the war, we have witnessed systematic targeting of health facilities across the country,” she said. “Hospitals, clinics have been targeted by the different warring parties. And even worse, health workers have been targeted or fled the country. The health care system today, basically, has collapsed. So people today are facing COVID-19 with no health care system at all.”Yemen reported its first case of the novel coronavirus in April. As of June 4, the World Health Organization was reporting 423 confirmed coronavirus cases, with 96 deaths.Related: WHO fills gaps to fight COVID-19 in countries with weak systemsThe Facebook posts Nasser sees from people inside Yemen provide a more alarming picture. She said she suspects far more people are dying from the virus than official numbers portray.“I don't like to exaggerate,” Nasser said. “But I see that there are about 10 or 20 people dying daily. People are expressing the pain and despair through those social media posts … There are funerals happening on a daily basis. There is one graveyard in Sana’a that closed its doors, saying with a big poster on its door that the graveyard is fully occupied.” In Aden, Yemen’s southern port city, gravediggers can not keep up with the demand for burials.Fatima Saleh, a civil society activist living in Sana’a, has also noted the rise in death announcements on Facebook. “I’m seeing condolences to our friends, to friends of friends, on a daily basis. It's crazy. I mean, we've been in a war for, like, six years, but we've never seen something like this.”Fatima Saleh, civil society activist living in Sana’a, Yemen“I’m seeing condolences to our friends, to friends of friends, on a daily basis,” she said. “It's crazy. I mean, we've been in a war for, like, six years, but we've never seen something like this.”Preventative measures observed widely throughout the developed world have not yet been adopted in Saleh’s neighborhood in the Yemeni capital. “Yesterday, I went on an errand,” Saleh says. “I was in the shop and many people were not social distancing … And also, many people are not wearing masks or any kind of protection.”Hisham Al-Omeisy, a Yemeni political analyst living in Cairo with close ties to friends and family in Yemen, says the country is not doing enough to protect its people from the virus.“All the shops are open. All the roads are open. Even the big areas, where a lot of people crowd, are open,” Al-Omeisy said.Related: As it braces for coronavirus, Yemen offers lessons of survival“I just feel scared when I go outside because I know that people are not being careful and cautious regarding COVID,” Saleh said. “And some of the people treat it as just the flu.” She sees ominous signs in Sana’a’s busy streets and marketplaces. “Countries in the first world closed all facilities. But we didn't take lessons learned from this … And we don't know if we are at the peak or not. Nobody is telling us any death toll or any numbers.”“The situation back home is hell,” Omeisy said. “People are literally dropping like flies.” Omeisy says Yemeni officials seem to be deliberately opaque about the spread of the virus: “On one hand, they tell the UN and other bodies it's serious, on another, they downplay it locally.”“The Houthis even had the audacity to announce they are preparing 19 cures for the ‘US-made virus,’" said Omeisy, who was imprisoned and tortured by the Houthis before he escaped to Cairo. He says lack of a clear public health response by authorities imperils the Yemeni way of life. “We're completely helpless against a virus that cares nothing about our goodness or community values. It even seems that the virus is capitalizing on [our] closely-knit society to ravage through our communities.”

Le directeur humanitaire de l’ONU appelle la communauté internationale à soutenir les pays les plus fragiles face à la pandémie de coronavirus. Mark Lowcock a lancé cette semaine un appel pour une aide d’urgence de 6,7 milliards de dollars. La crise économique liée à la pandémie frappe de plein fouet les personnes les plus vulnérables et les acteurs humanitaires revoient leur besoin à la hausse. Après avoir œuvré contre la propagation du Covid-19, l’agence des Nations unies pour les réfugiés palestiniens estime ainsi avoir besoin de 93,4 millions de dollars pour faire face aux conséquences socio-économiques. Sur un peu plus de 350 cas de Covid-19 recensés en Cisjordanie, un quart des malades environ vivent dans les camps de l’UNRWA. Et cela a suscité une méfiance, une crainte, juge Gwyn Lewis, directrice des opérations de l’agence dans ce territoire palestinien. « Nous avons vu beaucoup de stigmatisation autour des cas de Covid-19. Particulièrement dans les camps, en raison du manque d’espace. Les familles vivent en grande proximité les unes des autres et cela a créé beaucoup de peur », dit-elle. En Cisjordanie, mais aussi à Gaza, au Liban, en Syrie ou en Jordanie, l’UNRWA s’est adaptée face à la pandémie. Les écoles ont été fermées, parfois transformées en centres de santé. Certains services, comme les distributions de nourriture, se sont faits à domicile. Et l’UNRWA a aussi joué un rôle important dans la prévention, estime Matthias Schmale, son directeur à Gaza. « Grâce à l’étendue de notre réseau, nous avons l’opportunité d’influencer les comportements. Nous avons par exemple les numéros de téléphone de 90 % des 282 000 enfants scolarisés dans nos écoles, ou plus exactement de leurs parents. Donc, on peut vraiment diffuser des messages essentiels sur la façon de se comporter de manière adéquate. » Des règles de confinement de plus en plus difficiles à appliquer Mais plus la crise dure, plus les règles de confinement sont difficiles à faire appliquer, relève Gwyn Lewis. « En raison des pressions économiques, toutes ces règles ne sont plus strictement appliquées. L’impact économique est tel que les gens, s’ils ont besoin de nourrir leur famille, vont retourner travailler. C’est de plus en plus difficile de limiter les mouvements en raison de la pression économique. » Dans l’ensemble de la bande de Gaza, le taux de chômage est désormais de 70 %. Et dans les camps du Liban, il est même de 90 % assure le directeur des opérations de l’UNRWA dans le pays. « On ne peut vraiment pas attendre plus longtemps » Les difficultés financières sont telles qu’un réfugié a menacé de s’immoler par le feu, se souvient Claudio Cordone. Et le désespoir est assez largement partagé, précise-t-il, rendant une nouvelle aide internationale essentielle. « D’autres nous disent qu’ils vont venir dans nos écoles, qu’ils n’ont pas d’autre endroit où dormir, qu’ils ne peuvent plus payer le loyer. Donc, face à cette situation, nous avons réussi à allouer une partie de notre budget de fonctionnement à des programmes d’assistance financière. Mais on ne peut vraiment pas attendre plus longtemps. » Accusée de perpétuer le statut de réfugiés pour les descendants des Palestiniens ayant dû fuir leur terre, l’UNRWA a perdu son principal bailleur, les États-Unis, en 2018. Alors qu’elle a déjà du mal à boucler son budget de fonctionnement habituel, l’agence se trouve actuellement face à des besoins plus importants. Mais en pleine crise économique mondiale, les promesses de dons pourraient être plus difficiles à obtenir.

*)Ahmaud Arbery’s killers arrested A white ex-police officer and his son have been arrested for murdering unarmed black jogger Ahmaud Arbery in the US state of Georgia. The arrest was made after a video emerged showing 25-year-old Arbery was hunted down while he was jogging and shot to death by the pair on February 23. Voices from around the world joined Arbery's family in calling the killing a lynching and demanded the pair be convicted. *)Case against former Trump aide dropped The US Department of Justice has dropped its criminal case against President Donald Trump's former national security advisor, Michael Flynn. Flynn was seeking to withdraw his 2017 guilty plea in which he admitted lying to the FBI about conversations with Russia's ambassador to the US. He was one of several former Trump aides caught up in Robert Mueller's inquiry into Russian interference in the 2016 US election. *)Italy condemns attack by Libyan warlord Italy has condemned an attack on Libya's capital Tripoli by warlord Khalifa Haftar. His militia fired rockets at the city's port, its international airport and a coastal road where Italy's embassy is located. *)At least over five civilians were killed in the attack. UN appeals for $6.7B to help poor countries fight Covid-19 The UN is calling on governments, companies and billionaires to contribute to a $6.7 billion fund to help vulnerable countries fight the coronavirus. It warns that failure to help could lead to a hunger pandemic, famine, riots and more conflict. UN humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock said the peak of the pandemic isn’t expected to hit the world’s poorest countries for another three to six months. And finally… *)Supermoon brings brightness to an Earth filled with sadness The last Supermoon of 2020 rose to provide a stunning spectacle. The phenomenon occurs when a full moon is within 10 percent of its closest distance to Earth. If you missed it, the next Supermoon will rise again in summer 2021.

Coronavirus cases surged in Italy, and France closed the world-famous Louvre Museum on Sunday as the deadly outbreak that began in China sent fear rising across Western Europe, threatening its tourism industry.The number of countries hit by the virus climbed past 60, and the death toll worldwide reached at least 3,000.New fronts in the battle opened rapidly over the weekend, deepening the sense of crisis that has already sent financial markets plummeting, emptied the streets in many cities and rewritten the routines of millions of people. More than 88,000 around the globe have been infected, with the virus popping up on every continent but Antarctica.Australia and Thailand reported their first deaths Sunday, while the Dominican Republic and the Czech Republic recorded their first infections.Italian authorities announced that the number of people infected in the country soared 50% to 1,694 in just 24 hours, and five more had died, bringing the death toll there to 34. France raised its number of reported cases to 130, an increase of 30 from the day before, and said it has seen two deaths.The U.S. government advised Americans against traveling to the two northern Italian regions hit hardest, among them Lombardy, which includes Milan. Major American airlines began suspending flights to Milan.The travel restrictions against Italy and the rising alarm in France could deal a heavy blow to the countries' tourism industries. Spring, especially Easter, is a hugely popular time for schoolchildren to visit France and Italy."We had already registered a slowdown of Americans coming to Italy in recent days," Bernabo Bocca, president of Italy's hotel association, said in a statement Saturday. "Now, the final blow has arrived."Tourism accounts for 13% of the economy in Italy, with its world-class art museums, archaeological sites and architectural treasures. More than 5.6 million Americans visit Italy every year, representing 9% of foreign tourists.Iran, Iraq and South Korea, among other places, also saw the number of infections rise. Cases in the U.S. climbed to at least 74 with the first death in the United States reported on Saturday — a man in his 50s in Washington state who had underlying health problems but hadn't traveled to any affected areas.Panic-buying of daily necessities emerged in Japan, where professional baseball teams have played spring-training games in deserted stadiums. Tourist attractions across Asia, Europe and the Mideast were deserted. Islam's holiest sites have been closed to foreign pilgrims. And governments have closed schools and banned big gatherings.The United Nations said Sunday it is releasing $15 million from an emergency fund to help countries with fragile health systems contain the virus."We must act now to stop this virus from putting more lives at risk," U.N. humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock said. The aid "has the potential to save the lives of millions of vulnerable people."In France, the archbishop of Paris told parish priests to put the Communion bread in worshippers' hands, not in their mouths. French officials also advised people to forgo the customary  kisses on the cheek upon greeting others.The Louvre, home of the "Mona Lisa" and other priceless artworks, closed after workers expressed fear of being contaminated by the stream of visitors from around the world. Staffers were also concerned about museum workers from Italy who had come to the Louvre to collect works by Leonardo da Vinci that were loaned for an exhibition.The Louvre, the world's most popular museum, received 9.6 million visitors last year, almost three-quarters of them from abroad."We are very worried because we have visitors from everywhere," said Andre Sacristin, a Louvre employee and union representative. "The risk is very, very, very great." While there are no known infections among the museum's 2,300 workers, "it's only a question of time," he said.The shutdown followed a government decision Saturday to ban...

*)Dozens killed as roadside bomb targets Afghan bus At least 34 passengers travelling on a bus were killed, and many others wounded by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan. The victims included women and children. Although there was no immediate claim of responsibility, a provincial official blamed the Taliban for the attack. But the Taliban has categorically denied any responsibility. *)UN warns Syria onslaught may spark humanitarian disaster The UN humanitarian chief urged the Security Council to take action to end the "carnage" in Syria's Idlib province. Mark Lowcock told council members they’ve ignored previous pleas and done nothing for 90 days as the massacre continues. He warned that continued violence could create the worst humanitarian disaster of the 21st century. *)Hong Kong protesters appear in court to face riot charge More than 40 protesters appeared in a Hong Kong court after being charged with rioting. A wave of protests began in late April over a now-suspended extradition bill that would’ve allowed Hong Kong residents to be sent to mainland China for trial. The protests have now evolved into a wider backlash against the city’s government and its political masters in Beijing. *)India's parliament outlaws Muslim practice of instant divorce India’s parliament passed a law against the Muslim practice of Talaaq or instant divorce, making it a criminal offence punishable by being jailed for three years. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu-nationalist government pushed through the bill, despite stiff resistance from several opposition parties. Instant divorce is when a Muslim man ends his marriage by simply saying the word “talaaq” three times, which means “divorce” in Arabic. *)Rhinoceros conceived artificially at California zoo And finally, There’s hope for rhinos, after a southern white rhino conceived through artificial insemination, was born at the San Diego Zoo. The birth is seen as a milestone that could help save the sub-species from extinction. It marks the first successful artificial insemination birth of a southern white rhino in North America.

Mark Lowcock is the top humanitarian official at the United Nations, serving as the Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and the UN's Emergency Relief Coordinator.   When a manmade or natural disaster strikes, his UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, which is known by its acronym OCHA, is the focal point for managing and coordinating the international humanitarian response, including getting food, shelter, medicines and other life saving needs to people affected by the crisis.    As Mark Lowcock explains, the UN and the constellation of NGOs that coordinate their actions through his office are very good at responding to crises. Keeping people alive who have been displaced or affected by manmade or natural disaster is something the UN excels at. The challenge is that there are a multitude of crises competing for a finite amount of resources and much of our conversation focuses on the challenge of funding these humanitarian operations, including some interesting new funding models that are emerging.   We kick off, though, discussing the situation in Yemen. We recorded this conversation on November 1st. The week prior Mark Lowcock briefed the Security Council on the deteriorating situation in Yemen and issued an extremely dire warning about a famine that looms over the country. Lowcock explains what compelled him to issue this warning about famine and we also discuss recent moves by the United States government to call for a ceasefire in Yemen.  

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and John Kiriakou are joined by Dr. Gerald Horne, a professor of history at the University of Houston and author of many books, including “Blows Against the Empire: U.S. Imperialism in Crisis.”Explosive packages were sent to Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and former Democratic National Committee chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz today and to billionaire Democratic Party donor George Soros over the weekend. None of them detonated and no one was injured. Why are incidents like this so common in the United States? The hosts look at the issue of political polarization, factional struggles among political elites and their impact on the larger population and the history and the role violence has played during periods of political turmoil and indeed within the foundational structures of what became the United States. Wednesday’s regular segment, Beyond Nuclear, is about nuclear issues, including weapons, energy, waste, and the future of nuclear technology in the United States. Kevin Kamps, the Radioactive Waste Watchdog at the organization Beyond Nuclear, producer of Loud & Clear Nicole Roussell, and Sputnik news analyst Walter Smolarek, join the show. In our continuing daily coverage of the midterm elections, the hosts take a look at Medicaid. Medicaid expansion is on the ballot in some of the unlikeliest places this election, places like Idaho, Utah, Montana, and Nebraska. These are states whose populations were no fans of Obamacare, but many people there have come to the conclusion that the only way to cover gaps in health care is to expand the federal program long attacked by conservatives. Brian and John speak with Leo Cuello, an attorney and the director of health policy for the National Health Law Program. The United Nations Undersecretary General for Humanitarian Affairs said yesterday that as many as 14 million Yemenis--half of the country’s population--is at risk of starvation because of Saudi Arabia’s war on that country. Mark Lowcock said, “There is a clear and present danger of an imminent and great famine” hitting Yemen that would be bigger than anything seen in the lifetime of any UN official. Kathy Kelly, co-coordinator of Voices for Creative Non-Violence, joins the show. Ecuador’s foreign minister said yesterday that the country would no longer intervene with the UK government on behalf of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange. Jose Valencia departed from previous policy by saying that it is now up to Assange to deal with his own problems with the UK. Randy Credico, an activist, a comedian, and the former director of the William Moses Kunstler Fund for Racial Justice, joins Brian and John. Apple Corporation CEO Tim Cook launched a blistering attack yesterday in Brussels against what he called the data industrial complex. Cook said that the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation could provide an alternative model. Professor Bryan Ford, who leads the Decentralized/Distributed Systems lab at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL), joins the show.Last week, there was an attack in southern Afghanistan against the governor, police chief, and intelligence director of Kandahar Province. They were all killed when the governor’s own bodyguards opened fire. The attack was claimed by the Taliban. But now we’re learning that the primary target was US Army General Scott Miller, the four-star officer in charge of all forces in Afghanistan. And US Army Brigadier General Jeff Smiley was shot and wounded in the attack. Brian and John speak with Brian Terrell, a long time peace activist and also co-coordinator of Voices for Creative Nonviolence.

More than 65 million people are forcibly displaced, for on average about ten years. That's the scale of the problem facing Mark Lowcock, the new UN Emergency Relief Coordinator and Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs. This is not only a short-term humanitarian problem but a development issue as well. How should the system to respond? Mark Lowcock joins CGD's president Masood Ahmed to discuss.