Episode #9 - Martin Barber

Martin Barber has worked in some of the world’s most challenging humanitarian crises, leading emergency operations in Afghanistan, Bosnia, Honduras, Laos, Thailand and many more. He also served as Director of the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) and held various positions with the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (OCHA). In this episode, Martin Barber takes us back to the early 1990s and reflects on when the UN General Assembly resolution 46/182 was established, UN’s cornerstone humanitarian mandate. He shares insights on the creation of OCHA in the late 90s and discusses the coordination challenges between the UN agencies to respond to the humanitarian needs of refugees (fleeing outside the country) and those of the internally displaced people at the time. Disclaimer: The opinions and memories expressed in the “I Was There” podcast series are those of each individual speaker and do not imply the expression of any opinion or responsibility on the part of UN OCHA.