Wesal Abu Hamad, a UN Volunteer Humanitarian Field Support Assistant with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), was in Gaza when the war erupted. 

“The levels of death and destruction in Gaza are without parallel in recent times. Day after day, our efforts are being blocked, delayed, and denied. This is unacceptable.” UN Secretary-General António Guterres says, while highlighting the clear obligations for the occupying power, Israel. He calls Gaza a man-made disaster, a moral indictment, and a failure of humanity itself. “People are starving.

Anas's job is to make sure people get the information fast. He builds dashboards that show who’s doing what, helps collect and analyze data, and ensures it’s easy for everyone to access. His mission is simple: give decision-makers, responders, and communities clear, reliable information they can trust. 

As an Emergency Response Officer focused on gender, I make sure women and girls are seen, heard, and supported when disasters strike. Whether it’s a cyclone, drought, or flood—everyone feels the impact, but women and girls often carry the heaviest load. I work to ensure their voices guide how Zimbabwe prepares for and responds to crises—so no one is left behind.

My name is Zahra Vaziri. I am from Iran. I serve as a UN Volunteer Associate Programme Officer with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in Malawi. My role is to help ensure that humanitarian projects are not only implemented, but that they bring dignity, opportunity, and hope to both refugees and the communities that host them. I also make sure that the projects we design and fund are not only implemented but also carry meaning for the people who live here. 

Yeran Kejijian knows what it means to be displaced. Her grandparents were refugees in Lebanon, and their stories shaped her path. Now, as the United Nations Volunteers Country Coordinator for Lebanon and Syria, Yeran helps Syrians return home after years of exile. For her, rebuilding communities isn’t just about logistics—it’s about restoring dignity. 

Humanity in action

Douglas Mikioo, UN Volunteer Engineering Assistant and Plant Equipment OperatorFor Douglas, peace starts with pipes, concrete, and clean water. His day begins at a desk—signing off on supply requests. But it quickly shifts to the field, where he makes sure water flows across the base and building materials reach remote teams. "My various roles are part of moving forward with peace, step by step." Jean Bavuge, Water and Sanitation Technician

I recently travelled to Mbire with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Zimbabwe communications team. As a UN Volunteer, my job was to help tell the stories of women and families we met. We were documenting the impact of a One-stop Centre provided by UNDP in collaboration with the Zimbabwe Gender Commission. The initiative started in response to alarming findings from a national inquiry on child marriages and abuse of young girls, including those with disabilities. 

We had all answered the call to serve in the historic United Nations Assistance Mission in East Timor (UNAMET), a political mission, established by the UN Security Council on June 11, 1999. Our task: to help organize and conduct a UN-sponsored referendum in which the Timorese people would vote on whether to remain under Indonesian autonomy or pursue full independence.