DUTY STATION: Ethiopia
POSITION: National program officer

“As a humanitarian aid worker, I feel rewarded when I can reach out to disaster affected communities and bring a smile on the faces of the people in need.”

WHAT DOES HUMANITARIANISM MEAN TO YOU IN ONE WORD?

Welfare

STORY

“Every human being on this earth has the right to lead a dignified life. My dream is to see a world free from suffering, poverty and humanitarian crises. I want to contribute and be a part of that world. As a humanitarian aid worker, I feel rewarded when I can reach out to disaster affected communities and bring a smile on the faces of the people in need.”

“In 2011, a severe drought hit some of the east African countries including Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya leading to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people. Families and vulnerable individuals including children, women and elderly were coming to the Ethiopian border on foot from long distances which made them very weak to walk. Most of the children were critically malnourished and some of the refugees had died on their way to the border due to a lack of water and food. I will never forget the human suffering I saw during this humanitarian crisis but I feel very satisfied and rewarded about having been a part of the emergency intervention which saved many human lives.”