Hacking Hunger – Episode 39: A Yemeni Aid Worker on What It’s Like to Live Through the World’s Worst Humanitarian Crisis

Published December 18, 2019

In the last few years, Mohammed Ghanim has become all too familiar with the struggles of war. A program officer for the United Nations World Food Programme, Mohammed lives and works in Yemen, site of the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. He is also from Yemen, born and raised – and like every other Yemeni, he has not been immune to the consequences of conflict.

“It was crazy to see, you know – a whole family of nine were killed in an air strike. Just 200 meters away from my house,” he shared. Yet, despite the tremendous hardship he continues to face, Mohammed remains dedicated to helping his neighbors in urgent need.

The U.N. World Food Programme currently has nearly 800 employees working on the ground in Yemen, working desperately to keep the country from sliding into famine. And most of them are Yemeni nationals like Mohammed, who’ve seen their nation destroyed by conflict these past few years. Inspired his commitment, we asked Mohammed about the reality of living in Yemen during this difficult time, how U.N. World Food Programme is working to help, and how he finds hope for his country’s future, even in the middle of war. Listen above for his stunning story of bravery.