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Source: United Nations (video statements)

As a child Ozonnia Ojielo survived a brutal civil war in his native Nigeria in which starvation was used as a weapon. After training as a lawyer, an encounter with fellow survivors gave him new purpose and propelled him to his current role as the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ethiopia.

“She started crying. All the other guests started crying. I started crying as well. There I was, a very successful lawyer making a lot of money. But I said to myself, this is much more valuable. Trying to change people’s lives, or at least be there as a voice for them.”

From Rwanda to Sierra Leone to Ethiopia, Ozonnia Ojielo has supported communities around the world as they navigate difficult journeys from violence to peace. In this episode, he reflects on the long shadow of genocide, on the delicate work of reintegrating both perpetrators and victims, and shares why the biggest currency the world can offer young people is hope.

[00:00] Introduction
[00:57] Growing up during the Nigerian civil war
[06:10] Parents’ commitment to education
[08:52] Discovering a life of service
[15:25] Supporting women and children affected by conflict
[18:43] Leaving law behind for humanitarian work
[20:00] Sacrifices and education as a family value
[21:51] The relationship between peacebuilding and development
[24:35] Life and work in Kyrgyzstan
[28:18] Working in post-genocide Rwanda
[31:00] The war in Sudan and the importance of hope
[32:28] Challenges facing Ethiopia today
[35:36] What keeps Ozonnia awake at night
[38:05] Closing remarks

Listen to more Awake at Night episodes: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwoDFQJEq_0b6hu1e8oxsch9W0D7vkNqt
#podcast #UnitedNations #AwakeAtNight #DCO #humanitarian #Ethiopia

About Awake at Night
Hosted by Melissa Fleming, UN 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.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cN7ImhAXj8s

Source: United Nations (video statements)

@unitednations
▶ https://youtu.be/cN7ImhAXj8s

As a child Ozonnia Ojielo survived a brutal civil war in his native Nigeria in which starvation was used as a weapon. After training as a lawyer, an encounter with fellow survivors gave him new purpose and propelled him to his current role as the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ethiopia.

“She started crying. All the other guests started crying. I started crying as well. There I was, a very successful lawyer making a lot of money. But I said to myself, this is much more valuable. Trying to change people’s lives, or at least be there as a voice for them.”

From Rwanda to Sierra Leone to Ethiopia, Ozonnia Ojielo has supported communities around the world as they navigate difficult journeys from violence to peace. In this episode, he reflects on the long shadow of genocide, on the delicate work of reintegrating both perpetrators and victims, and shares why the biggest currency the world can offer young people is hope.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/nxLFicebkk0

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Video message by António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, on World Humanitarian Day.

On World Humanitarian Day, we honour the dedicated workers who provide life-saving aid to millions in need.

We also confront an appalling truth:

Serving others has become more dangerous than ever.

More than a thousand humanitarians have been killed in the last three years.

Most were local staff supporting their own communities.

Countless others narrowly survived being shot at, shelled, bombed, kidnapped, or raped.

Schools and hospitals are coming under fire.

And new tools of war – including armed drones – are posing fresh risks.

At the same time, disinformation is eroding trust.

Humanitarian funding is being cut.

And humanitarian access is being restricted.

We see aid convoys blocked.

Aid workers threatened, arrested, and detained.

And people in desperate need left without support.

Attacks on humanitarian workers are illegal.

And the consequences are devastating.

For families struggling to survive.

Children waiting for food.

Patients seeking urgent care.

And so many more.

The world has made commitments.

Now it must act:

To respect the rules of war;

Ensure safe access;

Hold perpetrators accountable;

And provide sufficient resources.

Humanitarian workers stand up for people in need.

We must stand up for them.

We must act for humanity – now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-HjIQLWly8

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Highlights:
– Ukraine
– Colombia
– Lebanon
– Yemen
– Occupied Palestinian Territory
– Sudan
– Rwanda
– Nagasaki
– Information Integrity

UKRAINE

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that attacks across Ukraine over the past three days killed and injured several civilians, including children. Attacks and front-line hostilities have also damaged homes and civilian infrastructure, as well as disrupted essential services in the regions of Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odesa, Dnipro, Sumy, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, Kherson and Mykolaiv. This is according to Ukrainian authorities.

OCHA notes that humanitarian operations have also been impacted. An attack in the city of Dnipro destroyed a World Health Organization (WHO) warehouse containing medical supplies for front-line health facilities. No casualties were reported. The same day, a humanitarian evacuation vehicle was damaged, while a truck belonging to a local partner of the World Food Programme (WFP) was struck while transporting food in the region of Kherson.

Humanitarian organizations have been providing emergency assistance, including first aid, psychosocial support and emergency supplies, to people impacted by the latest attacks.

COLOMBIA

The UN is monitoring the developments following the 7.4 -magnitude earthquake that struck Colombia this morning. The epicentre was reportedly in central Colombia, between the states of Chocó and Valle del Cauca, but was felt across the region – from Panama to Ecuador and Venezuela.

Connectivity in rural areas has become limited. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) doesn’t yet have information on casualties and impacts, but has received reports of structural damage, including collapsed houses, across several towns.

The Government has initiated precautionary evacuations and is leading efforts to assess damage and casualties.

The UN’s thoughts go out to all who have suffered as a result of this earthquake, and the UN stands ready to help as needed.

LEBANON

Over the weekend, the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) continued to observe Israeli land and air activities in their area of operations in south Lebanon. UNIFIL detected 455 projectiles fired by the Israel Defence Force from Friday to Sunday, striking multiple locations in south Lebanon. Peacekeepers also recorded 97 airspace violations – mostly by drones but also helicopters and fighter aircraft. Saturday’s 229 IDF projectiles constituted the highest number since 21 June. An air strike was also observed in Al Mansuri (Sector West) Sunday morning.

On Friday, peacekeepers inside a UNIFIL position in Meiss ej Jebel (Sector East) observed a bullet impact in front of the accommodation area and recovered one 7.62mm round. There was no injury or damage to UN property. Around the same time, peacekeepers observed two IDF Merkava tanks firing three rounds eastward, impacting approximately 200 metres from the position, alongside roughly 30 rounds of small-arms fire directed toward the same area.

Peacekeepers have discovered unguarded weapons, unexploded ordnances (UXOs) and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in their area of operations. On Friday, a combined UNIFIL-Lebanese Army patrol found a 107mm rocket launcher loaded with one rocket alongside several additional rockets along a road in Frun in Sector East. They were referred to the Lebanese Army for further action. On the same day, peacekeepers found two unexploded ordnances in Sector East, in Deir Mimess and Meiss ej Jebel, which were neutralized. Separately, yesterday, two IEDs were discovered in Sribbin in Sector West and destroyed on site.

Peacekeepers also continue to observe IDF movements at sea within Lebanese territorial waters. Two IDF boats were observed heading north before returning southward on Friday.

And on the humanitarian front, on Friday, UNIFIL facilitated three humanitarian missions in both sectors through its Liaison Branch in coordination with OCHA.

Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-08-10

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuDmht9akjw