Interview with Gezahegn Kebede(PhD)

On this World Humanitarian Day, we pause to honor the dedication and courage of those who work tirelessly to alleviate the suffering of others in the face of adversity. Ethiopia, a country rich in history and culture, has also faced significant challenges in recent years, including conflicts, natural disasters, and the resulting humanitarian crises. These events have severely impacted millions, particularly women and children, who are often the most vulnerable in times of crisis.

In the heart of these efforts stands Gezahegn Kebede, known to many as Gez, the Country Director for Oxfam in Ethiopia. With extensive experience in humanitarian work, Gez has witnessed first-hand the profound effects of these crises on the Ethiopian people. His commitment to advocating for those in need and his leadership in Oxfam’s efforts to provide critical support have been instrumental in addressing the complex challenges facing the country.

Today, we have the opportunity to hear from Gez, who will share his insights on the current humanitarian situation in Ethiopia, the impact of ongoing conflicts, and his message for World Humanitarian Day.
 

· Why have you decided to work as a humanitarian? 

I chose to work as a humanitarian because, at the core, I'm driven by a sense of shared humanity. While everyone is human, we all make different choices, and for me, the path to humanitarian work was guided by both circumstance and the organizations I became involved with. I initially worked for the government, but after spending nearly six years with USAID as a program officer, I realized that I wanted to do more than just provide resources and monitor their use. I wanted to be directly involved in the work these organizations were doing on the ground. This realization led me to join Oxfam, starting my humanitarian career in a challenging location like Hargeisa, Somalia, as a Country Director. Since then, the work has been a continuous motivation to do more because humanitarian crises—whether floods, earthquakes, or conflicts—are relentless, and there’s always more that can be done.

· What is the impact of humanitarian work? 

The impact of humanitarian work is straightforward: it saves lives. While we can discuss grand strategies or ambitious goals, the fundamental priority is ensuring people's survival. In any humanitarian crisis—whether it's conflict, drought, or flooding—people lose access to their basic resources, and it’s the humanitarian organizations that step in to provide what’s necessary. Even if it means extending someone's life by just another month or year, that is the immediate impact. However, this is just the beginning. Long-term resilience is essential because we can't keep feeding people indefinitely; they need to become self-sufficient. That’s why our approach combines immediate relief with a focus on resilience, ensuring that people can eventually sustain themselves without ongoing aid.

· How do you feel about working as a humanitarian worker? 

Working as a humanitarian is a mix of emotions. On one hand, there’s a sense of accomplishment when you see people moving towards sustainable lives. On the other hand, it can be deeply frustrating. It raises questions about why these crises continue to occur and why communities and governments aren’t better prepared to handle them without relying on organizations like ours. Ideally, the communities we serve should eventually be able to tell us that they no longer need our help because they’ve achieved self-sufficiency. As a humanitarian, I feel that while I’ve done a lot, it’s never truly enough.

· What are the challenges you face? 

The challenges in humanitarian work are not personal but sector wide. While there is satisfaction in responding to immediate needs, the ongoing nature of the work is daunting. We save lives today, but those same lives will need saving tomorrow and, in the years, to come. The challenge is the cyclical nature of the need; the mouths we feed today will still need feeding tomorrow. This highlights the broader issue of sustainability and the need for lasting solutions.

· As a humanitarian worker, what is your message to the world? 

My message is that we need to redefine our success indicators. True success in humanitarian work isn’t just about the number of lives we save or the amount of aid we distribute. While these are crucial, the ultimate goal should be to make ourselves irrelevant by empowering communities to stand on their own. Our success should be measured by how quickly we can step back because the communities we serve no longer need us. This should be our guiding principle in all our efforts.