Intercross: The Podcast

After 10 years of conflict in Syria, thousands of people are missing, hundreds of thousands are dead, and millions of people are displaced. In the past 12 months, millions more Syrians have been pushed into deeper hunger and poverty. In Northeast Syria, we’re seeing the world’s most complex child protection crisis unfolding in front of us.

In two special episodes, Intercross shares stories of those affected by a decade of brutal and unrelenting conflict, and the efforts made by the ICRC and our partners to assist them.

In Aleppo, we hear from young Syrians Mouna Shawakh and Rami Asfar, telling us in their own words about how their lives have changed due to conflict.

We interview ICRC’s NAME Regional Director Fabrizio Carboni and ICRC psychotherapist Alessandra Lennar about the severe humanitarian consequences for thousands of stranded women and children living in Al Hol camp.

Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

After 10 years of conflict in Syria, thousands of people are missing, hundreds of thousands are dead, and millions of people are displaced. The past 12 months has seen millions more Syrians pushed into deeper hunger and poverty.

For young people especially, this has been a decade of savage loss, marked by missed milestones, stolen futures, immense economic hardship and a profound psychological toll.

In this episode, Intercross brings you part one of a special two-part series, hearing directly from those affected by a decade of brutal and unrelenting conflict, and about the efforts made by the ICRC and our partners over the past decade.

We are introduced to two young Syrians living in Aleppo, Mouna Shawakh and Rami Asfar, who we met when the ICRC surveyed thousands of young Syrians earlier this year, to ask how their lives changed trajectories. What are their most pressing needs? And, crucially, what are their hopes for a more normal future?

After 10 years of conflict in Syria, thousands of people are missing, hundreds of thousands are dead, and millions of people are displaced. The past 12 months has seen millions more Syrians pushed into deeper hunger and poverty. For young people especially, this has been a decade of savage loss, marked by missed milestones, stolen futures, immense economic hardship and a profound psychological toll. In this episode, Intercross brings you part one of a special two-part series, hearing directly from those affected by a decade of brutal and unrelenting conflict, and about the efforts made by the ICRC and our partners over the past decade. We are introduced to two young Syrians living in Aleppo, Mouna Shawakh and Rami Asfar, who we met when the ICRC surveyed thousands of young Syrians earlier this year, to ask how their lives changed trajectories. What are their most pressing needs? And, crucially, what are their hopes for a more normal future?

Long after returning home to the US, a staggering number of veterans suffer from untreated depression, PTSD, trauma and other mental health conditions, which in some cases, run deep. A connection is unclear, but some of these veterans also become incarcerated and must learn to cope with these issues behind bars. The American Red Cross is seeking to help them through a resiliency program that sends trained facilitators into prisons to provide mental health support to incarcerated veterans. For this episode, we'll learn how the American Red Cross supports some of the 180,000 incarcerated military veterans in the US today, building new skills for life in — and outside — of prison.

World leaders have converged on the Scottish city of Glasgow for COP26—the United Nations climate change conference. The stakes could not be higher. Sea levels are rising. Heatwaves, droughts, floods, and wildfires are more frequent, more intense, and threatening the survival of humanity. In a brand-new episode of Intercross, we hear from our communications colleague in London, Sam Smith, who's been closely following this story for the past year, writing about the very real human impacts of climate change in a conflict zone. He starts in Somalia with ICRC's Abdikarim Abdullahi. Three decades of conflict have weakened the country's institutions and left some 2.9 million people internally displaced. Somalia is ranked as one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change when it comes to its ability to improve resilience. The recurrent nature of climatic shocks, such as droughts and floods, and the instability created by conflict, meaning herders and pastoralists—several of which share their stories—have little chance to recover and build resilience. Sam then turns to Mali. Since 2012, armed conflict has profoundly disrupted the lives of Malians, spreading from the north to central regions, causing death, displacement and economic failure. At the same time, Mali is becoming hotter and drier, while the Sahara Desert, which already makes up two thirds of the country, is expanding. He speaks with Dr. Catherine-Lune Grayson, ICRC's Policy Advisor and author of the recent report, When Rain turns to Dust, to learn why the countries affected by conflict are among those deemed to be the most vulnerable to climate change. They discuss what exactly about insecurity that undermines states ability to help their communities adapt to climate and the main commitments ICRC is hoping to come out of COP26.

World leaders have converged on the Scottish city of Glasgow for COP26—the United Nations climate change conference.

The stakes could not be higher.

Sea levels are rising. Heatwaves, droughts, floods, and wildfires are more frequent, more intense, and threatening the survival of humanity.

In a brand-new episode of Intercross, we hear from our communications colleague in London, Sam Smith, who’s been closely following this story for the past year, writing about the very real human impacts of climate change in a conflict zone.

He starts in Somalia with ICRC’s Abdikarim Abdullahi. Three decades of conflict have weakened the country’s institutions and left some 2.9 million people internally displaced. Somalia is ranked as one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change when it comes to its ability to improve resilience. The recurrent nature of climatic shocks, such as droughts and floods, and the instability created by conflict, meaning herders and pastoralists—several of which share their stories—have little chance to recover and build resilience.

Sam then turns to Mali. Since 2012, armed conflict has profoundly disrupted the lives of Malians, spreading from the north to central regions, causing death, displacement and economic failure. At the same time, Mali is becoming hotter and drier, while the Sahara Desert, which already makes up two thirds of the country, is expanding. He speaks with Dr. Catherine-Lune Grayson, ICRC’s Policy Advisor and author of the recent report, When Rain turns to Dust, to learn why the countries affected by conflict are among those deemed to be the most vulnerable to climate change. They discuss what exactly about insecurity that undermines states ability to help their communities adapt to climate and the main commitments ICRC is hoping to come out of COP26.

Digital technologies – both their presence and absence during crises – are impacting humanitarian action and civilians' lives. They are also impacting the means and method of warfare - leading to a "digitalization of armed conflicts". In this podcast, Intercross host Elizabeth Rushing speaks with Saman Rejali, ICRC Law and Policy Advisor based in Geneva, and Yannick Heiniger, Deputy CEO of swissnex San Francisco, on their views about digital technologies and humanitarianism, exiting the echo-chambers of both the public and private sector to exchange views on using "tech for good", balancing risks and opportunities brought forth by digitalization, the relevance of international humanitarian law in the digital age, and establishing bonds of trust – with affected people and across sectors - amidst the COVID-19 pandemic through digital diplomacy and more.

Digital technologies – both their presence and absence during crises – are impacting humanitarian action and civilians’ lives. They are also impacting the means and method of warfare - leading to a “digitalization of armed conflicts”.

In this podcast, Intercross host Elizabeth Rushing speaks with Saman Rejali, ICRC Law and Policy Advisor based in Geneva, and Yannick Heiniger, Deputy CEO of swissnex San Francisco, on their views about digital technologies and humanitarianism, exiting the echo-chambers of both the public and private sector to exchange views on using “tech for good”, balancing risks and opportunities brought forth by digitalization, the relevance of international humanitarian law in the digital age, and establishing bonds of trust – with affected people and across sectors - amidst the COVID-19 pandemic through digital diplomacy and more.

The average time that the ICRC has been present in its ten largest operations is 42 years. With these seemingly endless wars come layers of humanitarian consequences, including the cumulative effects of hostilities on infrastructure and healthcare systems, prolonged displacement, increased barriers to accessing essential services, and interruptions to education. The duration of humanitarian operations in protracted conflict settings has caused organizations like the ICRC to re-think their way of working. In light of the humanitarian imperative to respond to the needs of people affected, the International Review of the Red Cross recently dedicated an edition to protracted conflict. In this podcast, Intercross host Elizabeth Rushing speaks with ICRC's Policy Advisor Filipa Schmitz Guinote and ICRC's Special Envoy on Humanitarian and Development Affairs Colin Bruce about the stress points and blind spots of the so-called 'humanitarian-development divide' in protracted conflict settings.

The average time that the ICRC has been present in its ten largest operations is 42 years. With these seemingly endless wars come layers of humanitarian consequences, including the cumulative effects of hostilities on infrastructure and healthcare systems, prolonged displacement, increased barriers to accessing essential services, and interruptions to education. The duration of humanitarian operations in protracted conflict settings has caused organizations like the ICRC to re-think their way of working.

In light of the humanitarian imperative to respond to the needs of people affected, the International Review of the Red Cross recently dedicated an edition to protracted conflict. In this podcast, Intercross host Elizabeth Rushing speaks with ICRC’s Policy Advisor Filipa Schmitz Guinote and ICRC’s Special Envoy on Humanitarian and Development Affairs Colin Bruce about the stress points and blind spots of the so-called ‘humanitarian-development divide’ in protracted conflict settings.