[Photo: Courtesy of UN Photo Library]

OpEds/Interviews/Articles by Jan Egeland
Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs
and Emergency Relief Coordinator

OpEds/Articles

An investment in our collective future
The Hindu, 30 October

Over the last 30 years, natural disasters have affected five times more people than they did only a generation ago. The bad news is, things are getting worse as our climate changes, threatening more extreme weather and a potential explosion in human misery...  The good news is, we are far from powerless to reduce risks and protect ourselves from nature's wrath. But we must act today if we are to prevent calamity tomorrow. [Full article]

Gaza's Human Calamity
Al-Quds, 29 September

Some 1.4 million people in Gaza - more than half of them children - are packed inside one of the world's most densely populated areas with no freedom of movement and no place to run, no place to hide. With access virtually cut off since late June, poverty, unemployment, shortages and desperation in Gaza are mounting.  [Full article]


Aid workers, armed only with their principles, are paying with their lives
Globe and Mail Update, 13 September

In a web-exclusive comment, the United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator Jan Egeland expressed grief and frustration over the growing number of attacks on humanitarian workers while in the line of service.  [Full article] 


Rescue workers at risk
The Washington Times, 10 Seprember

Recent attacks on aid workers in Sri Lanka, Darfur, Afghanistand and elsewhere affirms the urgent need for improved safety and unimpeded access for humanitarian aid workers. [Full article]

Managing Aid for Humanitarian Crises
Jakarta Post, 21 June

Although some big crises, like the tsunami in South Asia, get a lot of attention and subsequent funding, most crises fall "under the shadow of our collective neglect". [Full article]

Killing Fields
The Wall Street Journal
The world's largest aid effort now hangs in the balance, unsustainable under present conditions.  If we are to avoid an immiment massive loss of life, we need immediate action. [Full article]


Most of the humanitarian disasters fail to appear at all on our radars
The Independent, 5 April

While Darfur is now headline news, aid workers around the world know that most crises fail to appear at all on our radars.  Only a select few garner our attention. [Full article]

Seize the moment to help end Congo's suffering
Die Welt (Berlin), Le Soir (French), European Voice (English), De Standaard (Flemmish), Le Monde (French)
13-14 February 2006

Each and every day, more than 1,200 people in DRC die from the lingering effects of civil war: malnutrition, disease, and displacement. With free elections on the horizon, we now have our best-ever opportunity to help alleviate the acute suffering of millions of Congolese. [Full article]   

Interviews

Annan's Top Humanitarian Aide Leaving U.N.
National Public Radio, 12 December

Madeleine Brand of NPR interviews UN humanitarian chief on his last day at work.


Interview with Jan Egeland
ISeek, 11 December

Mr. Egeland spoke to ISeek, the United Nations intranet, prior to his departure as Under-Secretary-General.


Egeland Profile Report
The World, 30 November 2006

The World's Jeb sharp profiles the UN's top humanitarian official, Jan Egeland, who is set to retire the end of 2006.

The Moment of Truth for Darfur
UNA/USA, 23 May 2006

Jan Egeland answers questions on the situation in Darfur, Sudan. Included in the discussion are the hurdles to the UN setting up a peacekeeping mission, the peace agreement between the Sudanese Government and rebel groups and the ongoing violence in the region.  [Full article]

Jan Egeland: The World's conscience
Time Magazine, 25 April 2006 

Shortly after Jan Egeland's appointment as United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator in 2003, he relentlessly brought to the world's attention the situation in Darfur, where 180,000 have died and 2 million have been displaced. [Full article]


 

Press Briefings

ERC briefs press in Geneva on the CERF
Geneva, 12 October

Jan Egeland told the press that the more than US $260 million received so far by the CERF will be used to save lives by providing quick funding for victims of natural disasters and armed conflict.  [Highlights]

ERC briefs press in Geneva on challenges to the humanitarian community
Geneva, 11 October

ERC Jan Egeland briefed journalists on three current challenges for the humanitarian community - the situations in the Darfur region of Sudan, in northern Uganda and in Iraq. [Highlights]

ERC briefs press in Nairobi at the end of eight days, three-nation, mission to Africa
Kenya (12 September)

Jan Egeland summed up his impressions from his eight days visit to war-affected populations in the Great Lakes region, eastern Congo, northern Uganda and South Sudan. [More]

Conference on the situaiton in the Middle East
Geneva, 10 August

Jan Egeland told the press that Lebanon was one of the worst places on earth in terms of humanitarian access as there were over two hundred thousand people that aid could not reach. [Transcript]

Press conference on the situaiton in the Middle East
Jerusalem 26 July

Jan Egeland addressed the press and took a few questions during his trip to the Middle East.  He emphasised the need for a halt to the hostilities in order to provide much needed aid to the population of Lebanon. [Transcript]

Press Briefing on the situation in Lebanon
New York, 21 July

USG Jan Egeland briefed the New York press corps hours before his visit to Lebanon, where he will launch the Flash Appeal on Monday 24 July.
[Highlights] [Webcast]

Press Briefing on the the occupied Palestinian territory
Geneva, 14 July

USG Jan Egeland  briefed journalists in Geneva following a meeting which discussed how to enhance social, economic, humanitarian and protection needs of those civilians in caught up in the crisis in Gaza and the other parts of the occupied Palestinian territory. [Highlights] [Webcast]

Press Briefing on Somalia, Sudan and Gaza
New York 11 July

USG Jan Egeland briefed the New York Press Corps on the situation in Somalia, Darfur and the occupied Palestinian territory. [Highlights]

Press briefing on Sudan and Democratic Republic of the Congo
Geneva, 15 May

USG Jan Egeland briefed the press on the Democratic Republic of the Congo and on his recent visit to Sudan. [Highlights]