S8-Episode 9: Help and Hope for the Hungry

 

 

 

Melissa Fleming 00:00
Cindy McCain is head of the World Food Programme, and it's her job to make sure people don't starve. One of the most important parts of her work is delivering food to zones of war and conflict. And these days, her focus is very much on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

 

Cindy McCain 00:19
It's a monumental task because of the amount of people involved and because of the emotions. It's something... You know, this is a terribly emotional issue to a lot of people. And our job is to give hope and help by giving food to those who really need it most. And that's what we do.

 

Melissa Fleming 00:46
From the United Nations, I'm Melissa Fleming. This is Awake at Night. Welcome, Cindy.

 

Cindy McCain 01:02
Thank you. I'm glad to be here.

 

Melissa Fleming 01:05
There are so many crises around the world where people don't have enough to eat. But I'd like to first ask you about the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Of course, we experienced the most horrific attacks on October 7th, Hamas terror attacks against the Israeli people and the hostage taking. The humanitarian organizations are focused on the situation in Gaza. What do people in Gaza need in terms of food? But maybe first, you know, what would you like to say about the situation in general?

 

Cindy McCain 01:47
Well, first of all, thank you for having me and talking about this subject. The situation in Gaza is just this... it's a human catastrophe. We have millions of people jammed into one area. There's no food, there's no water, there's no fuel. And so what this has generated is people who are desperate, understandably, unable to feed their families. So that's why it's critical that organizations like WFP and others get in there with our food and water, of course, from the other organizations to do just what we need to do and that's feed. We need safe passage, and we need sustained passage. And so we've been working with the Egyptian government to do just that so that we can get in. We're working with the Egyptian Red Crescent in supporting what they're doing. But we still need more. We need a great deal more than what's going in right now.

 

Melissa Fleming 02:45
You were at that border. You went...

 

Cindy McCain 02:47
Yeah.

 

Melissa Fleming 02:48
Almost immediately you went to Egypt, and you travelled down to that border. I think at that point, WFP trucks and trucks of other humanitarian agencies were backed up.

 

Cindy McCain 03:00
Yeah.

 

Melissa Fleming 03:01
What was it like being there and what has happened since?

 

Cindy McCain 03:05
Well, it's again... It's chaos. The Egyptian Red Crescent was doing their very best, but it was an overwhelming, you know, issue and an overwhelming project. So what we're doing with them is we are... logistics. We're offering logistics. And by that, I mean we are going to prioritize the loads, be able to assist in palletizing and making sure that there... It's organized, the manifests are organized so that when they do have to go through the Israeli checkpoints, that it's easy to do because it's all right there. And there's no question about what's actually on the truck.

But it's chaos. I mean, everybody in the world is sending stuff. So sorting it out and making sure that the things that they need right now go in first. And the other goods, the blankets and all that will come, you know, on other trucks that come through. But we just need to keep it in an orderly fashion and know what's going on and where it's designated to go and make sure that it goes to the right place. It's a monumental task because of the amount of people involved and because of the emotions. It's something... You know, this is a terribly emotional issue to a lot of people. And our job is to give hope and help by giving food to those who really need it most. And that's what we do.

 

Melissa Fleming 04:25
What are your people on the ground telling you about what they're encountering when they are delivering? Finally, when these trucks get through and finally when they're able to deliver some relief.

 

Cindy McCain 04:37
Well, we saw the reports of the desperation and people rushing the trucks and were looting warehouses. They're hungry, you know, and they're desperate. So even though it's a tragic thing to do, I get it. I mean, you'd do anything to feed your family. So our people on the ground are also hungry now. They have not had enough food for them, for their families. So as I said, it's a very desperate situation. And the warehousing, you know, it's scattered. You know... Because you know, we're down in one place now and we don't have the kind of system that we had before. But we do have a system. And that's what we are good at. And we have people in place to make sure that the food goes to where it's supposed to go.

 

 

Melissa Fleming 05:22
UN colleagues have died in this war. I mean, you must personally worry for your colleagues every day.

 

Cindy McCain 05:32  
I do. Oh, that's my biggest worry. Aside from everything else. But I mean, I want to make sure our people stay safe like everyone else. They're our family. It weighs on me quite a bit and I have been.... I have stayed up at night just worrying and following and seeing what's happened so that I know, at least I can assume that they're okay at times. But in the beginning, we weren't sure. As you know, communication was cut off, so we had no idea where they were or if they were safe. And their families, of course, too. So it's something that has... Yeah, I'm sure I have more grey hair as a result of it.

 

Melissa Fleming 06:11
Well, I mean, you haven't... How many months have you been in the job?

 

Cindy McCain 06:15
Only seven.

 

Melissa Fleming 06:16
Seven months. I'm just wondering because I know that - and we'll go into some of the places that you visited - but it is World Food Programme and other humanitarian colleagues are... That's what they do. I think you've said is go into situations that are very harrowing and even dangerous. Have you learned something that you didn't know about UN humanitarian staff since you've joined?

 

Cindy McCain 06:45
You know, I've... Obviously, I had worked with them before in my other lives and things that I'd done and I'd seen them in action, but I never truly understood their commitment, their dedication. As you said, they go into places that are unsafe. They risk their lives and they're doing it because they believe in what we do. And they believe that everyone has the right to food. They are some of the most incredible people I've ever met, the people that work in the field.

 

Melissa Fleming 07:17
I wonder just when you think about ... And let's just stay with the colleagues in Gaza now, how do you think they are managing and how are they coping with this?

 

Cindy McCain 07:28
Well, I worry about them. You know, this is the kind of thing that, you know, we have most recently dealt with Sudan. We had to make sure that our colleagues were cared for there. Mental health, the strain that it put on them. And we're dealing with the same for our colleagues that are in Gaza right now. I wish... I'd like to be able to get them out and replace them, you know, put new people in. But it's difficult right now.

And their families are with them. And so that's an added... obviously an added strain. And, you know, because you're so afraid for your family. I cannot imagine, honestly, the strain that this has put on our folks. And I'm... As soon as we can offer those services to them, we will, because I think they need it. You know who wouldn't after something like this? And so I... Each day I pray for their safety, their strength, their dignity, because that's what they're... you know, they're very dignified people. And so I'm just... I'm so proud of them. I'm so proud of what they do.

 

Melissa Fleming 08:32
So am I.

 

Cindy McCain 08:32
Yeah.

 

Melissa Fleming 08:33
So am I. I mean, you mentioned Sudan. Unfortunately, the horrors of what people are going through there have just left the headlines. I know that you were recently in Chad, and you saw the refugee situation there. But I mean, you also have colleagues working inside Sudan still trying to deliver. What is that like now?

 

Cindy McCain 08:57
Well, Sudan is again another complicated area, and I'm grateful we're talking about Sudan, because Sudan plus so many other countries in that region and so many countries around the world are not in the headlines now. They've been forgotten in all of this. And we cannot forget that there are other situations just as complicated around the world. And that's why WFP needs help. We need...You know, we need countries to help donate and do things. Sudan itself is... It's very dicey. As you know, the Jeddah talks have reignited and hopefully that will lead to something that will enable us to safely get in. But we're not in Khartoum.

Right now we are coming in through Chad, trying to get to Darfur. We had some trucks that were lined up to go in and then things kind of blew up there. And so the bulk of our people are in Port Sudan on the other side and working from that angle so that we can get ships in there with food and things as well. It's very complicated and it's also... it's very risky. And as you can see by the migration, people are coming in and they've... The horrific things that have happened to them. And so we're not only dealing with a population that's very hungry, but also population has been very traumatized by what's going on.

 

Melissa Fleming 10:20
I just saw a colleague from UNHCR appealing on social media for the refugees in Chad who you visited and saying they are desperate, they're hungry, and yet we do not have funds. And I'm hearing this a lot, but this is a kind of unprecedented situation where the big donors that could be relied on are just not stepping up anymore. What is the consequence of that? Are you facing that too at WFP?

 

Cindy McCain 10:51
Yes, we are. We are. It's been... You know, donor fatigue and we had unprecedented levels last year and the year before. But donors are now saying, 'You know, we...' Their constituents are saying, 'Oh, we'd rather have the money put here at home, you know, into things that we need.' And that's the same with most every region that we appeal to for assistance, US included. So we've had to become leaner. We've had to become more efficient. We've had to make sure that every dollar we can get, we send to the field, because that's where the real work is done. It doesn't.... Staying at headquarters doesn't do any good.

So I'm trying to make sure that we have enough money to make sure our field offices have everything they need so that they can continue to do their work. But nevertheless, in all of this, I've had to pick and choose. I'm taking food from hungry people and giving it to starving people. That's a heck of a decision to have to make. I've had to look a mother in the eye and say, 'No, we don't have any rations for you. We've had to take you off the rolls because we don't have enough money.' I mean, I'm only human. It's hard for me.

 

Melissa Fleming 12:08
Where was that mother?

 

Cindy McCain 12:10
We were in South Sudan, and she had described what was happening and what her journey had been, and why her journey began not only for fear, but also because she was afraid that the rebels were going to take her little boy as a child soldier. So she came across with her children and her son.

 

Melissa Fleming 12:35
I guess then that's a perfect segue into the question - what keeps you awake at night?

 

Cindy McCain 12:40
Everything. I take everything to heart and I... That's why I'm either perfect for this job or maybe not perfect for it. I don't know which, but the situations that we're facing, and the world is facing. You know, unless you have food and water, you know, things are just not going to work well. And so I every night, you know, to try to figure out what can we do tomorrow or the next week or the next month to maybe patch this and then move over here and patch that. And kind of it's... You know, it's tough.

 

Melissa Fleming 13:19
I mean, we were just talking about crises in parts of the world that have left the headlines - Sudan and South Sudan and Chad. But there's also Ukraine that is also fading away from the attention of the public and... I mean, I believe WFP has quite an operation within Ukraine. How are you trying to help?

 

Cindy McCain 13:42
Right. We're doing the kinds of things, we're not just feeding, but we're also working with our demining organizations to help get the mines out of the... You know, we work with the Swiss to get mines out of the agricultural lands so they can then plant again and do work on things like that. I mean, the country's destroyed. And it's, you know, the agricultural sector has been levelled by this. And so the ability to be able to not just sustain families but sustain a country. Almost impossible. So getting the land back in place. Of course, feeding people. Making sure that children, you know, that we have the correct things for children in schools and things and just doing what we do. I mean, our people are incredible. We have a great country team there. And our leader is a seasoned professional. I'm very proud of him and he volunteered for it.

 

Melissa Fleming 14:40
How does that make you feel that Ukraine was once the breadbasket even of the world, people say?

 

Cindy McCain 14:45
Yeah.

 

Melissa Fleming 14:46
And now its fields are full of landmines and the wheat that needs to get out, some of it's not getting out.

 

Cindy McCain 14:53
Well, that's been hard because we WFP purchased a lot of grain from Ukraine. In fact a great deal, most of what we would take down to the Global South and in other countries came from there. And so that's been a... You know, we've had to readjust how we procure and how we, you know, how we move our grain around, etc.… And plus now, you know, it's just more expensive to move things. The supply chain is very difficult now because of the cost. And so that's weighed into this now. And, you know, I leave all of that to the politicians, which sounds funny coming from me. But I do. So I hope, you know, each day I hope that we can come to some kind of agreement so we can just feed people around the world. But I know that I'm probably... It's probably not going to happen.

 

Melissa Fleming 15:43
That should be just the minimum that is.

 

Cindy McCain 15:46
Yeah.

 

Melissa Fleming 15:47
You became Executive Director of the World Food Programme in March 2023. But after a long career in philanthropy and also politics with your late husband, Senator John McCain. What prompted you to join the United Nations?

 

Cindy McCain 16:04
Well, I became... I was lucky enough to be appointed Ambassador to the US-UN in Rome after this because I do have a history in this kind of stuff. And so I began my tenure there at the embassy there. And I mean, it was an incredible experience. I just... You know, I'd never done any kind of public service like that before. And so I not only met some incredible people, but we got a lot done.

And the Ukraine war broke out. I mean, we had a number of problems that were going on worldwide. So it was a great, not a great time, but it was an interesting time to be there. And from there, when the opening came at WFP, people approached me and said, 'Would you like to do this?' And I [said], 'Yeah, I really would.' I didn't really have to think very long about it because through the years I'd work with WFP, and they were always the pinnacle of what was good. You know, God, these people look what they do. Wouldn't it be great to be part of that? And now I have this opportunity and it's the honour of a lifetime for me.

 

Melissa Fleming 17:12
I wonder then before that, because, you know, coming from a US context, I believe you worked in philanthropy and how did you get into that? And was there an inspiration that got you to take up such work?

 

Cindy McCain 17:28
You know, I... People... This question I'm asked all the time, and what I tell them is it's different for everybody that does this kind of work, but it's also the same. It's an experience that you have someplace. It's different for everybody. And I was no different. I had an experience. I was in the South Pacific. I was with my husband. We wound up because of an accident - not us, but another person had an accident - at this little hospital… It was a little, you know, field hospital that was in this place then called Truck Lagoon. And I'd never seen things like that before. I'd never seen [inaudible]. I'd never seen, you know, standing water, you know, no hospital beds, no equipment, nothing. And this is a trust territory of the United States. And so I was a little embarrassed also.

So I just began... First began sending supplies. And then we start taking teams in there and we spread out. We had medical teams that worked around the world, and it just went from there. And we were in Nicaragua post-war. We had a number of... You know, we were around the world quite a bit. We were in Kuwait after the first Gulf War. So it took me around the world, and it also showed me the goodness of the world too. And I still believe in the goodness in the world. I really do.

 

Melissa Fleming 18:51
So part of it was because your husband was... Was he senator at the time when he was [inaudible] and you accompanied him and then saw...?

 

Cindy McCain 18:59
Saw. Yeah. This is in the 80s.

 

Melissa Fleming 19:01
The needs.

 

Cindy McCain 19:01
Yeah, when I saw...

 

Melissa Fleming 19:02
And decided that you wanted to have some kind of effect on...

 

 

Cindy McCain 19:06
Yeah, I knew I had to do something. I just couldn't sit back and go home. You know, and I had... You know, I wound up, as you know, the story about adopting a baby girl out of Bangladesh that we hadn't planned on doing and working with Mother Teresa. And it was... I've had an incredible life.

 

Melissa Fleming 19:26
Let's talk about that because I believe that was in 1991 and you went... There was a terrible cyclone there and you went to Bangladesh to help.

 

Cindy McCain 19:35
They asked us to bring, and we had various surgeons with us. And so that's what we did. And a friend of mine who was Catholic, said 'Why don't you go see if you can find Mother Teresa's orphanage and just see if she needs anything.' So of course we will. So we... It took us a while to find it. I mean, like a couple of days, because it's buried in this part of Dhaka that's very difficult to get to. And, you know, there's no street signs or anything anyway. So we wound up walking in and there was 150 newborn children, newborn little girls, I'll say. All right, there, all in bassinets, all clean, all, you know, lovely. But they were little girls. And of course, the nuns were overwhelmed.

And so we began not just giving health checks, but also, you know, acquiring more food for them and things like that. And so at the end of this, there are two babies, particularly. One had a cleft palate and the other one had a heart condition. And I said, 'Well, you know, I can get help for them at home.' And I had the access. I could get visas, US visas. The nuns got passports for them. And so I said, 'I'll take them to Phoenix.' And then… and here. And of course, it's all legal and all this kind of stuff. And then, you know, we'll go from there. And on the way home, I knew I couldn't give this little girl up, the one with a cleft palate. And so I...

 

Melissa Fleming 20:55
You just fell in love with her.

 

Cindy McCain 20:55
I did. I did. And I walked off the airplane and my husband knew immediately what I'd done and he... Under his breath, you know, there's a lot of media standing there and under his breath he goes, 'Well, where's she going to go?' And I said, 'Well, I thought she'd come to our house.' And he said, 'I figured.' That's how he met his new daughter. He was the most gracious man alive. He really was. He was a lovely human being. And that was a test of our relationship right there.

 

Melissa Fleming 21:21
Wow. You go to help people in Bangladesh and come home with a daughter.

 

Cindy McCain 21:26
No, I will say in subsequent trips, he would tell the team leaders, you know, that I would take with me to make sure she... one leaves, one comes home.

 

Melissa Fleming 21:35
Because you have other children, right?

 

Cindy McCain 21:36
I had three others. Yes, I do.

 

Melissa Fleming 21:39  
What did they think about their little sister?

 

Cindy McCain 21:42
They loved her. I mean, it was... I tell you what they learned, though, from it is that because her cleft palate was pretty severe, and she had to... She was too underweight to have the surgery right away. So, you know, we'd go out in public. And I remember at Halloween, we were home by Halloween, and we had her in a little stroller, and she was all dressed up like a pumpkin, I'm sure or something. And there was a little girl, and not little. She was like a teenage girl that looked at her and pointed and said, 'Eww! You know, look at her.' And my kids, they reacted in a way that was... They said, 'You're not going to... That's... You don't do that.' You know, I mean, they really got after the girl and I said, 'Settle down everyone. We're all going to learn from this.'

 

Melissa Fleming 22:24
I mean, this surgery is something that can change children's lives. And there are so many children around the world that are born with it but can never afford the treatment.

 

Cindy McCain 22:34
Right. Or don't have access to it. Yeah.

 

Melissa Fleming 22:35  
Is this something that you also advocate?

 

Cindy McCain 22:38
I sat on the board of Operation Smile for years for the very thing, for that very reason. You know, I experienced it with my own child and... And so it was wonderful to go with them and advocate for them and watch the transformation in families. It was amazing.

 

Melissa Fleming 22:57
How is she? I believe her name is Bridget. How is Bridget?

 

Cindy McCain 23:01
Bridget's wonderful. She's 32 years old, and she's just a blessing. She really is. And she's the... All my kids have a sense of humour, but hers is a very dry one. And boy, she's witty as all get out. And she's great.

 

Melissa Fleming 23:16
Has she ever been back to Bangladesh?

 

Cindy McCain 23:19
No. We tried at one point, and we were going to go and then there was some disruption in Bangladesh. They were having riots and things, so we opted out and it just never worked after that. So maybe one day.

 

Melissa Fleming 23:31
Just a bit about your family. I understand you grew up in Phoenix, Arizona.

 

Cindy McCain 23:38
I did. Born and raised.

 

Melissa Fleming 23:38
What was that like and what was...?

 

Cindy McCain 23:41
It's great. I mean, I have... Since I've moved to Rome and I spent a lot of time in New York and Washington, I've come to realize the weather is much better in Arizona than in other places.

 

Melissa Fleming 23:53
Except in August. I believe it had the hottest...

 

Cindy McCain 23:57
You're right though, we had the hottest one on record this year. But no it was... I had a great life. I was... You know, I'm blessed in so many ways. I was an only child. I had two parents who were absolutely... You know, we were the threesome. They showed me the world, too. They we travelled a lot.

 

Melissa Fleming 24:14
And I believe it was not quite a rags-to-riches story. It was a rags… Okay.

 

 

Cindy McCain 24:18
Yeah. My father and mother both were... You know, my dad grew up very poor and went to World War Two. He became a B-17 bombardier. And met my mother at the USO. He was injured. He was shot down and injured. And so when he came back to the States, he met my mother at the USO place. And it was one of those stories. And he brought her... She was a very Southern… And they met in Memphis. And my mother's very southern, was very proper. And my dad, you know, they'd get on a train, they'd have to get off in Tucson to make it to Phoenix. My mom said she stepped off the train and thought she'd gone to hell because it was so hot, and it was dusty. And she had her little gloves, her hat on, everything. I can only imagine.

 

Melissa Fleming 25:01
Oh, yeah. It's a different, totally different environment.

 

Cindy McCain 25:06
And Arizona now is a rather sophisticated place, but in those days it was not.

 

Melissa Fleming 25:10
It was Wild West.

 

Cindy McCain 25:11
It was Wild West. It was.

 

Melissa Fleming 25:12  
Well, in that Wild West how did then the rags become riches?

 

Cindy McCain 25:17
My dad was smart. He’s a smart man and he knew, he understood business. And so he was the Anheuser-Busch beer wholesaler. And but he acquired the brand because the guy that had the brand didn't want it. He thought it was a lousy brand. He just wanted to get rid of it. And it cost my parents $10,000 to get it. And they sold everything, sold their car, sold… Everything they had they sold and borrowed to be able to buy the brand line. And it exploded. You know what happened. I mean, it's the biggest brand in the world now.

 

Melissa Fleming 25:50
How did he...? Did he ever tell you like how he knew, and your mother, how did they know that it was...?

 

Cindy McCain 25:57
He used to just say, 'Honey, it was luck.' You know, and I think luck was part of it. But I also think that my dad's intuition and because he was a... And he was also one of the kindest men you could ever know. And he was just this... He had an innate sense that he could judge people and he just knew. Obviously, I miss him very much. He was very critical in my life to helping me become what I could do. Neither one of them went to college. My dad barely graduated from high school. You know, it was one of those stories.

 

Melissa Fleming 26:31
But they encouraged you?

 

Cindy McCain 26:33
They absolutely did. They encouraged me to do everything.

 

Melissa Fleming 26:36  
In 1979, you met your future husband, John McCain. Where did you meet?

 

Cindy McCain 26:41
Oh, we met in Hawaii. My parents and I were there spring break. I was a schoolteacher at the time. And we were there on spring break. And the gentleman who was the... He was the assistant to the CINCPAC admiral was there. And he said, 'Would you like to come to a reception? We're having a group of senators on their way through to China.' 'Sure.' And so we go into this reception and there's this man and he has on his dress whites and, uh, anyway... But it was how I met him, physically met him though, is that Joe and Jill Biden introduced us. Joe Biden and Jill came over and said, 'You've got to meet him.' And pulled us both like this.

 

Melissa Fleming 27:25
Matchmaking.

 

Cindy McCain 27:26
Matchmaking. So I had a nearly 40-year marriage because of Joe Biden.

 

Melissa Fleming 27:31
You have a lot to thank him for.

 

Cindy McCain 27:33
I do. I do.  

 

Melissa Fleming 27:38
You mentioned that you've, you know, obviously miss him an awful lot.

 

Cindy McCain 27:42
I do. Yeah, I do.

 

Melissa Fleming 27:43
I mean, how does his legacy affect your work?

 

Cindy McCain 27:47
Well, you know, I... You know, a lot of us play this game - what would John McCain do? You know, and I do the same. But I think for me, it's been... The first realization was the impact that he had on the world because everywhere I go everyone's got a John McCain story. You know, what they did, what they saw, how they met him, you know, whatever it may be. And I love listening to it. And so his impact in all of this and I think his impact on me in terms of service to the world and doing the right thing, which isn't always the easy thing. You know, the things, the lessons that he taught me. And of course, his prison experience was a large part of that. And so the lessons he would teach our children. And how we would, you know, how you deal with life when things aren't so good, kind of thing. So I remember a lot of those things that he taught my children. And certainly me as well and I can... I've applied them, I hope. And I just hope he's happy with me. Hope he's looking down going, 'Yeah, you're doing okay.'

 

Melissa Fleming 28:52
I think he would be pretty proud of you. But maybe it also helps you when you're seeing people in such adversarial situations that you keep going.

 

Cindy McCain 29:01
Yeah. Yeah, I do. And it's for me, it reminds me of... You know, John never had the attitude that he had somehow been mistreated. He called it an experience. He was a professional soldier. You know, he knew the risks, etc., unlike some of our ground troops who are not professional soldiers. So he viewed it that way. And he viewed... You know, and as you know, he wound up helping normalize relations with Viet Nam. So when I see things on the ground where I see terrible mistreatment or terrible situations, etc., I think of what cruelty the world can inflict on people, but also the incredible sense of drive that the other portion of the world has about making sure that the world's a better place. So you see both sides of it in the work that I do, and I like that. Occasionally, I need a good day. I like a good day occasionally. And that's what kind of drives me is the incredible spirit of people around the world, especially the folks in the UN.

 

Melissa Fleming 30:11
Cindy, thank you so much.

 

Cindy McCain 30:13
Thank you for having me.

 

Melissa Fleming 30:15
Thank you for listening to Awake at Night. We'll be back soon with more incredible and inspiring stories from people working against huge challenges to make this world a better and safer place.

To find out more about the series and the extraordinary people featured, do visit un.org/awake-at-night. Do subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and please take the time to review us. It helps more people find the show.

Thanks to my editor Bethany Bell, to Adam Paylor, Josie Le Blond, and to my colleagues at the UN: Katerina Kitidi, Roberta Politi, Geneva Damayanti, Tulin Battikhi, Bissera Kostova, Anzhelika Devis, Carlos Macias and the team at the UN studio. The original music for this podcast was written and performed by Nadine Shah and produced by Ben Hillier. Additional music was by Pascal Wyse.