"There are certain images that will stay with me for a very long time. Because those are the images that cannot be forgotten overnight."

Sajjad Malik witnessed terrible suffering during the Syrian crisis. As UNHCR’s former representative in the country, he oversaw one of the UN Refugee Agency’s toughest and most dangerous operations.

Since the war in Syria started in 2011 more than 5.7 million people have fled the country. Another 6.9 million are internally displaced.

In this special bitesize episode, Sajjad Malik reflected on the catastrophic conditions he witnessed there and the lasting impact of those memories.

"You have to maintain your mental strength and courage. It’s fine to say it and reflect and cry if need be."

:: Sajjad Malik interviewed by Melissa Fleming

“I realized I'm a black person and that people see the color of my skin first, before they see who I am and what I'm capable of doing…that was the rude awakening.”

With her writing, Amanda Khozi Mukwashi wants to change the conversation on race, gender, and identity. Now United Nations Resident Coordinator in Lesotho, she has written a book exploring the struggle for equity and the historical baggage of slavery and colonization.

“Let's talk about it a little more freely, not for it to hold our hands and tie them, but for it to liberate us to think differently.”

Moving back to the UK after leaving a high-level development post in Zambia, Amanda Khozi Mukwashi got tired of being asked where she was really from. In this episode, she reflects on the discrimination she has faced, on the rich family history she inherited from her grandmother, and on discovering her own multifaceted identity.

“If we keep to our two corners as if this is a boxing match, black and white, the victim and the victimized, it's such an unhealthy and unhelpful polarization of who we are as human beings.”

:: Amanda Khozi Mukwashi interviewed by Melissa Fleming

"There are so many good people at the UN, all trying to make the world a bit better. It sounds idealistic, but we are idealistic. It is an idealistic organization."

Ulrika Richardson has dedicated her life to the UN. As Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Haiti, her belief in the organization’s idealistic values drives her to brave dangers in her mission to alleviate the suffering she has witnessed. “When you see people suffer, those images stay with you … that keeps you awake, and it *should* keep you awake.”

Life in Haiti remains precarious. Armed gangs, cholera, and fuel and food shortages mean violence, hunger, disease, deprivation are everyday hurdles for millions of Haitians. Ulrika reflects on the scale of suffering, on preserving the dignity of those in need, and on the importance of saying goodbye.

“I always think back on countries where I've worked with a smile. Instead of your heart shrinking after every piece that you've left behind, you just feel it expanding.”

:: Ulrika Richardson interviewed by Melissa Fleming

“It's a very complicated job, but it is meeting people and finding out their stories. It's giving voices to victims. That's what motivates me.”

Matilda Bogner’s job is to bear witness to unspeakable crimes. As head of the United Nations Human Rights mission in Ukraine, she and her team record accounts of horrific abuses and rights violations in a bid to bring the perpetrators to justice and ease the victims’ suffering.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has devastated millions of lives. Civilians have been subjected to summary executions, disappearances, arbitrary arrests, and mass rape. In this episode, Matilda Bogner reflects on the scale of these horrors, the mental health impact of documenting them, and on her urgent quest to raise the alarm with the rest of the world.

“I still find it difficult to understand that people can treat each other in these ways. It never makes sense to me.”

:: Matilda Bogner interviewed by Melissa Fleming

“When systems break down … during war, that is when trustworthy, verifiable information becomes even more important.”

Growing up at a time of war in Bangladesh, Irene Khan learned first-hand how access to trustworthy information can save lives. Now UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, she advocates for reliable information for all, especially during conflict.  

“Access to information from outside the conflict from a source that we felt was verifiable and trustworthy, was so important for us as a family to know whether we flee, whether we stay, should we go east or west. That's why I call it a survivor right.”

Social media has connected, informed, and empowered our world like never before. Yet malicious lies and hate speech spread online are causing real harm to our societies. In this episode, Irene Khan reflects on curbing harm while preserving vital freedoms, on the responsibilities of states and platforms, and reveals how she lets off steam in the kitchen.

:: Irene Khan interviewed by Melissa Fleming

“Now as a father with two girls, I just can't imagine the anguish that my mother went through … I wonder how many sleepless nights she had.”

Alfred Orono’s childhood came to an abrupt end when he was recruited as a soldier in Uganda, when he was just 11 years old. Now Chief of Child Protection at the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), he draws on his own experience as a child soldier to help young people find a peaceful way forward.

“I work with children who, when I look at them, I know exactly what's going on in their minds. I know how they feel. And I'm part of the solution to their problems.”

Every year, thousands of children are recruited by warring parties around the world. Yet their troubles rarely end after the conflict is over. Having suffered violence, abuse, and exploitation, many struggle to rebuild their lives. In this episode, Alfred Orono reflects on his own experience, the hope it gives to former child soldiers, and on living life without regrets.

:: Alfred Orono interviewed by Melissa Fleming

“I got such a feeling of outrage, healthy outrage, proactive outrage, which I still feel now.”

Staffan de Mistura has dedicated his life to making a difference. Now the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, he spent a large part of his 48-year career at the UN striving for an end to some of the most intractable conflicts of modern times.  

“I have no regrets. I would have never chosen another type of job. I think you can [make a difference] even in the worst-case scenario - always.”

From Syria and Afghanistan to Sudan and Iraq, the seasoned diplomat is known for bringing creative thinking to the negotiating table even when others have lost hope. In this episode, Staffan de Mistura reflects on harnessing constructive outrage as a driving force, on his determination in the face of despair, and why at 75, he isn’t ready to retire just yet.

:: Staffan de Mistura interviewed by Melissa Fleming

How is the life of a young child in Kenya interlinked with the life of a Swedish man who'd lost his son in a road accident? And also linked to the life of a woman who had lost her parents in the Holocaust, though she herself survived? In this episode of Awake at Night, we hear from Chris Mburu, UN Resident Coordinator in the Republic of Congo, as he reflects on his path out of poverty, the transformational power of development, and the ripple effect of small acts of kindness.

From a barefoot child barely affording school, to a young graduate of Harvard Law, Chris, now a human rights lawyer, did not forget the act of kindness that set him on his path. He is working on giving back.

Chris Mburu speaks about the story of his life, the role that key figures such as his mother, Hilde Back and Sven Magnusson played in his journey, and the surprising revelation that Hollywood uncovered for him by way of the 2010 acclaimed Emmy-winning documentary "A Small Act".

:: Chris Mburu interviewed by Melissa Fleming

“I found it fascinating as a leader […] to be in an environment of collective fear […] people naturally go to a place of great horror […] yet you're trying to buffer it yourself, because you've got to function […] The second point is the ego of leadership […] you've got to be very careful that you're not letting the ego of ‘I can do everything' [...] isn't driving you past the point of really solid judgement and solid reflection.”

Deborah Lyons knows how to keep a cool head in a crisis. In August 2021, when the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan, Deborah, in her former role as Head of UNAMA, was responsible for ensuring the safety of staff across the country, among them many women.

In this episode, Deborah Lyons reflects on the tragedy facing Afghan women, the trauma of the Taliban takeover, and what it takes to lead in turbulent times.

:: Deborah Lyons interviewed by Melissa Fleming

“We were surrounded by the Islamic State. And we had no weapons even to fight. We had nothing. We were left alone.”

Adiba Qasim has shown extraordinary courage and resilience. She narrowly escaped when her village was stormed by Islamic State militants who killed and enslaved thousands of Yazidis. This is her story.

Returning to northern Iraq in 2015, Adiba threw herself into humanitarian work, aiding survivors who had been enslaved by the militants. In this special bitesize episode she reflects on the horrors she witnessed, on battling survivors’ guilt, and on her motivation to help others.

This is a BiteSize episode excerpt from S2-Episode 7.

:: Adiba Qasim interviewed by Melissa Fleming