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“Somebody who lived in an IDP camp … [is] suddenly back home, in dignity, self-reliant and thinking, ‘I want to reimagine what life means for me’ … Yes, I'm very proud.”

A former child refugee, Mohamed Yahya knows the life-long pain of yearning for a lost home. That’s why some of his most emotional experiences with the 51�Թ� have involved helping displaced people return to their towns years after they fled a brutal conflict.

Until recently working with internally displaced communities in northern Nigeria, the 51�Թ� Resident Coordinator in Pakistan is a life-long champion of community-led development.

In this episode, Mohamed Yahya reflects on the challenge of rebuilding scattered communities, on his experiences of being a refugee twice, and on the lasting allure of home.

“There's always a sense of something missing. Because you're deprived of going back to where you were born.”

Photo credit: ©�����ٱ�

Hussen Nasser Al-Yabari, Yemeni environmental journalist, embodies an unwavering courage and dedication as he illuminates critical environmental issues amidst conflict.

Environmental journalism's vital role in highlighting climate impacts and advocating for press freedom, emphasizing the need for accurate information dissemination amid the environmental crisis.

has launched a podcast series called "" to improve people's media and information literacy skills. The series has 8 episodes on various topics such as disinformation, hate speech, digital skills, AI, and privacy. Listeners can expect to gain practical insights and skills for navigating the digital world. Today's episode focuses on learning digital skills to navigate safely in digital spaces.

has been broadcasting its core message of peace across South Sudan since 2006. For World Radio Day, celebrated on 13 February every year, Ben Dotsei Malor shares his thoughts on his time in Juba. 
Audio Credit: Daniel Johnson, UN News

highlighted the enduring relevance of radio as a lifeline during emergencies, exemplified by the Otis Brigade's efforts to locate over 100 individuals in Acapulco, Mexico, amidst power outages and communication disruptions.

Radio - one of the oldest forms of media - is celebrating its second century of service in the context of rapid technological innovation. Despite the emergence of various new platforms, radio remains the most widely consumed medium across the globe. Its ability to reach a large audience makes it a powerful tool for shaping society's diversity, and a platform for all voices to be represented and heard. This year’s World Radio Day celebration on 13 February, led by , highlights radio's remarkable past, its relevant present, and its promise for a dynamic future.

"Volunteers from all areas of society have helped people who have been directly impacted by the war. They're cooking meals, giving clothing, giving money, opening their homes."

Karolina Lindholm Billing was posted to Ukraine less than a year before the full-scale Russian invasion. As the UNHCR Representative in the country, she draws hope from witnessing the power of community volunteer networks in supporting displaced people in their hour of need.

In this episode, Karolina reflects on Ukrainian resilience, the drive to rebuild, and why people long to stay in their own homes, even in a war zone.

“What I’ve seen so clearly during these last 600 plus days of the war in Ukraine, is how quickly people want to recover…So when we can be a little enabler of that recovery, I think that feels meaningful”

Photo: ©UNHCR/Oleksii Barkov

“Our job is to give hope and help by giving food to those who really need it most. And that's what we do.”

World Food Programme (WFP) Executive Director Cindy McCain has many pressing reasons to lie awake at night. As Head of WFP, it is her job to make sure the millions of vulnerable people around the world who are relying on UN food assistance – from Gaza to Sudan to Afghanistan – don’t starve. In this episode, recorded four weeks into the war in Gaza, Cindy McCain reflects on finding hope in desperate situations, and raising her voice for the world’s forgotten millions.

Hunger is still one of the biggest – and most solvable – problems globally, causing 783 million people around the world to go to bed on an empty stomach every night.

“[Donation gaps mean] I'm taking food from hungry people and giving it to starving people. That's a heck of a decision to have to make.”

Photo: ©WFP/JulianCiviero

UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, Melissa Fleming, addressed a meeting of the Security Council on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its impact on hate speech, mis- and disinformation. Ms. Fleming noted that generative AI, if developed and used responsibly, has the potential to improve access to information, health, education, and public services. However, she expressed grave concern over the technology’s potential to “dramatically intensify online harms” by enabling large volumes of convincing disinformation to be created at scale and distributed widely.

figures show that 2023 has been a particularly deadly year for journalists who work in conflict zones, with killings almost doubling compared to the past three years. The last three months of this year have already been the deadliest quarter for journalists in conflict zones since at least 2007, with 27 deaths. The ongoing hostilities in the Middle East were responsible for a large majority of conflict-related killings. UNESCO is the 51�Թ� agency with a mandate to ensure freedom of expression and the safety of journalists worldwide.

's was a key component of , designed to engage and empower youths under the theme “Youth powering media and information literacy in digital spaces”.

The Reham al-Farra Memorial Journalism Fellowship (RAF), mandated by the UN General Assembly resolution in 1980,  offered a unique opportunity for 12 young journalists from developing countries and countries with economies in transition to cover the opening of the 78th session of the UNGA. 

With the spread of rumors and the distortion of facts, the boundary between true and false has become blurred. This is undermining the very foundations of our societies and democracies and putting lives at risk through the propagation of conspiracy theories, or the spread of hate speech. Focusing on digital spaces in this year's edition of , will give the opportunity to explore paths for strengthening multilateral cooperation with digital platforms and other stakeholders in integrating media and information literacy into policies.

“How can I not have sleepless nights when you have to choose between whether you fund the services for gender-based violence, or whether you fund the services for food, because for some children, it's only that one meal in school that they have all day.”

Growing up in Liberia, Sara Beysolow Nyanti is no stranger to the lasting pain of a country ravaged by recurring violence. As Former Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan, she often encountered the anguish of those bearing the psychological scars of war. “This woman [told me] we have nightmares … And she talked about losing her four children and she said it without crying. My heart was crying while she was speaking … I couldn't bear it.”

Reeling from decades of conflict, South Sudan is now suffering the devastating impacts of climate change. Floods have hit many areas, forcing locals to share dry land with deadly snakes. In this episode, Sara Beysolow Nyanti reflects on the mounting climate threat, prospects for peace, and retaining hope in one of the world’s most dangerous places.

Photo credit: ©UNMISS/Linda Tom