GLOBAL: IRIN Radio presents English audio interviews on hot humanitarian issues

Photo: Manoocher Deghati/IRIN

Somali police officers try to keep order during food distribution in Jowhar, Somalia (file photo)

NAIROBI, 8 June 2009 (IRIN) - IRIN has launched a new pilot series of audio interviews aimed at stimulating debate on some of the key topics and issues at the forefront of humanitarian thinking. The first series comprises five audio interviews (each less than 10 minutes in duration) that you can play or download from your PC as MP3 files.

We take a look at security in Somalia and its impact on the delivery of humanitarian assistance; and new developments in the field of assessment, including a humanitarian dashboard to synchronise information for decision-makers, and ground-breaking techniques developed in Somalia by the Food Security Assessment Unit (FSAU).

Tell us what you think about this new audio service: feedback@irinnews.org

Click here for all the audio files or see each one individually below:

Photo: Allan Gichigi/IRIN

Mark Bowden, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia

Security hampering aid effort in Somalia

Somalia is indisputably one of the most difficult and dangerous places for humanitarian workers to operate. How much does this impede the humanitarian aid effort? And are principles being compromised along the way? IRIN spoke to two key players.

Listen to an interview with Mark Bowden, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia.

Listen to an interview with Hugo van den Eertwegh, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) deputy head of delegation for Somalia.

Driving ahead with assessment and analysis

A prototype is out for a new tool to help simplify the process of data analysis for humanitarian decision-makers. The “humanitarian dashboard” is being developed by a team at the Assessment and Classification of Emergencies (ACE) Project, housed by the UN Organization for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Listen to an interview with Nick Haan of OCHA’s ACE project:

Lessons from food security assessment in Somalia

The Food Security Assessment Unit for Somalia (FSAU) has taken a lead in innovative data collection and analysis methodologies that may have widespread application in other crisis areas.

Listen to an interview with Cindy Holleman, FSAU chief technical advisor.

Turning data into action

The line between analysis and response is being erased by new approaches being successfully used in the field in Somalia. For example, FSAU researchers conducting a survey on malaria in children will also treat positive cases.

Listen to an interview with Grainne Moloney, FSAU nutrition manager.

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