Matthew Hollingworth has worked in conflict zones around the world, from Ukraine to South Sudan and Syria. Previously in charge of the World Food Programme’s (WFP) emergency operations in the West Bank and Gaza, Hollingworth was responsible for delivering life-saving aid to desperate people.
“People ask me every single day when I'm in Gaza: 'When will the bombs stop? When will the fighting stop? When will they stop blowing things up? When can I go home?' We don't have the answers. But we do know that that is what's needed,” Hollingworth shares.
WFP delivers food relief to more than 120 countries suffering the impacts of conflicts, disasters, and climate change.
In this episode (recorded on 21 June 2024), Hollingworth reflects on the daily struggle to prevent famine in Gaza, on the apocalyptic scale of the destruction there, and on the morale boost he gets from working with extraordinary colleagues on the ground.
“People get up and do amazing things every day… not getting paid at this point, serving fellow Gazans and showing immense strength, character and fortitude,” he says.
Listen to this episode by tuning in on your favourite podcast platform or visiting the Awake at Night website.
About Awake at Night:
Hosted by Melissa Fleming, Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, the podcast Awake at Night is an in-depth interview series focusing on remarkable United Nations staff members who dedicate their career to helping people in parts of the world where they have the hardest lives – from war zones and displacement camps, to areas hit by disasters and the devastation of climate change.
