A life-long humanitarian, Matthias Schmale has borne witness to a number of seismic moments in world history.
Currently the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine, he is overseeing efforts to help Ukrainians prepare for a fourth winter at war.
“The longer this lasts, the more the resilience will go down, the more the psychological damage will take hold [...] There are nights where I lie in bed thinking, why can't this nightmare for civilians end?” Schmale said.
Ukrainians have endured four years of hellish conflict that continues to devastate civilian lives and infrastructure, leaving 36 per cent of the population in need of aid.
In this episode of Awake at Night, Matthias Schmale looks back on a long career of humanitarian service, reflects on the deep scars of war, and explains why daily life in Kyiv can be both heaven and hell.
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 careers 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.
