Top UN official wants innovative solutions to humanitarian crises

You visited Mozambique, Tanzania and you plan to visit several other countries this month. What specific goals or objectives do you hope to achieve during your mission?

Thank you very much for interviewing me. I mean, if you look at the world currently, there are just so many crises: Gaza, Afghanistan, Sudan and others. On this trip, I started one week in Mozambique, I’m here in Tanzania for four days, then I’m going to Kenya for four days, then I’m going to Botswana.

Strategic objectives. One is to shine a spotlight on humanitarian crises, particularly in the northern part of Mozambique. The other is to explore regional partnerships. I’m going to Botswana to meet the Southern Africa Development Corporation (SADC). When I was in Mozambique, I visited the SADC Humanitarian Centre in Makala as part of partnerships and also discussing with government officials, including Madam President Samia Suluhu Hassan, how they see the impact of conflict in the neighbouring countries, for example, the case of Tanzania in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Mozambique, in the context of Tanzania.

And then lastly, equally important, is natural disaster. In a few weeks, there will be a hot plate. Mozambique is prone to so many cyclones. Tanzania is under the threat of El Nino. There is a drought. So in Mozambique, I visited the northern part of Mozambique, in Cabo Delgado, where I sat down with communities and saw with my own eyes the impact of conflict and how people came back. And I also saw how they didn’t have anything to eat because there was no rain. So broadly speaking, it’s about partnerships, it’s about conflict, it’s about climate change, and it’s about listening to communities with a humanitarian voice.

How is the climate crisis exacerbating humanitarian needs in the region, and what are some key examples you’ve observed?

So it’s a very good question. I mean, if you look at especially Eastern Africa, but also Africa more broadly, you basically have natural disasters, the threat of floods caused by heavy rains, and droughts that we have seen in the Horn of Africa, as well as in some parts of East Africa. And then you also see the knock-on effects of air pollution that comes from burning and other things. Now, specifically, how is it affecting you? In most African countries, like when I was in Mozambique, more than 80 percent of the population depends on agriculture. So when there is a drought, communities don’t have anything to eat. And the food prices go up, and the cost of living, as we have seen in Kenya, we have seen in Tanzania, of course.

And then on cyclones, you know, I visited an area in Mozambique that was hit last year by two cyclones, Cyclone Freddy, which came and then went out and then came back. What did I see? Bridges were damaged, ports, and Mozambique’s brand-new port seats on landslides. Imagine that down the mountain, the soil comes to impact the drainage of the sanitation. And what the government was telling me is that they keep on investing. They rebuild dams, the next year there is a cyclone, they have to rebuild them constantly.

And we should not forget the impact on communities. I went to a village in a district and I saw people who were affected by the conflict, left their villages, came back, and then faced drought. Pregnant women who don’t have anything to eat and children who are malnourished

So climate change impact is a human problem, a country problem because of development. But it’s also the most vulnerable population problem. Like the mother that I saw who is malnourished, but here she’s about to deliver a baby and she hasn’t been able to eat.

Are there any innovative approaches or solutions that you have come up with during your mission to make a positive impact in all these regions with conflicts and climate change issues?

I spent time in Mozambique, so I was in Maputo, and then I went to Nacala and Ilha de Mocambique, and then I went all the way up north, to the districts that were mostly affected by conflict.

I think for me, the innovations that gave me hope were three. One is the government, through natural disaster agencies like the government of Mozambique, which has developed a system to forecast cyclones. So, for example, they have the data and are trying to monitor when the cyclone will hit their country so they can prepare their communities and ask them to move. It really is helping the government expand the early and timely warning system.

The second is the investment that went into raising awareness of natural disasters and climate change in communities. So, for example, using the telephone, radio, and TV to constantly educate people, including villages, so that when you can see this kind of cloud, maybe there is a cyclone, but also what you can do about it. You would need to move away from your house to drive, etc. So the education of communities is really important.

And then, lastly, it is the collective action of humanitarian workers. I met locally women-led organisations; all the women who have formed communities are going one house after the other to check on pregnant women and children to see how they can support them not only through food but also through education. So, the community-driven initiatives also inspired me.

And frankly, the resilience of people. I mean, sometimes we take for granted our own lives, and then, you see, the mother I mentioned has gone through a lot, yet she has not given up, and yet she wants her child to have a better place in the world.

What are the potential consequences of not taking action to address climate-related humanitarian needs in southern and eastern Africa?

Frankly, sadly, Africa bears the brunt, as the Secretary General has mentioned, of climate change, even though it is not the main producer of carbon emissions. So, really, we are starting with a bit of an unfair baseline climate. Most of the African countries are not as developed as the ones that are polluting the world. So the economy and the resources available are very, very limited.

But, specifically, what are the impacts? One is people who die of hunger. For example, when there is a drought, people can’t afford to buy any food. Think about children who are malnourished. So the real impact on human beings is one.

The second is, as mentioned, the impact of cyclones and floods. If it’s damage to infrastructure, you know, when I landed here in Dar es Salaam on Saturday, there was heavy rain. On the way from the airport to my hotel, I was looking at people on motorcycles who were literally sinking into potholes in the water because the infrastructure was damaged. So, governments that do not have resources invest and keep on investing with the money that could go to other development activities, such as education.

And then lastly, it’s the economic development of the entire country. You think about how different regions and different parts are connected to the city. If the government has constantly had to focus on climate, it’s not good for economic development. Most of the African economy depends on the agricultural sector for exports, food supply, and everything else, including the air we breathe.

In your four-day visit to Tanzania, what were your observations regarding humanitarian services, conflicts, and the effects of climate change, and what are your recommendations?

I think one thing I should mention is that the more I travel to different parts of real conflict in the world, the more appreciative I am of Tanzania. How stable we have been; we have never had any conflicts. It’s a blessing, even within the African context.

My observation here is that yesterday I had the great honour and privilege to meet Madam President, my delegation, and me. One thing I learned is the importance of commitment to addressing and preparing for natural disasters. So we discussed, for example, national efforts to establish the National Disaster Centre in Dodoma and how we can support them. These are commendable efforts because, luckily for Tanzania, there is no cyclone, but they are already starting to think about how to prepare for it.

I think the other reason for which I am immensely grateful to the government of Tanzania and the people is the fact that the country is currently hosting more than 200,000 refugees in Kigoma and Dar es Salaam.

People who crossed over from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the host communities don’t have much to themselves, but they are still hosting others, refugees or asylum seekers. So, there are 200,000 refugees and asylum seekers in Kigoma and 250 in Dar es Salaam. That is the hospitality spirit of Tanzanians, and something that has really impressed me.

And then lastly, which is also what I discussed with Madam President, are the efforts I just met with from non-government organisations, the United Nations country team, how humanitarian partners and agencies are working with the government, and a head of COP28 to demonstrate the emergency preparedness they are doing here in the country.

So is the commitment from partners, the hospitality and graciousness of Tanzania in hosting the refugees, and then the emphasis on natural disaster preparedness.

Her take on Africa

One thing I would like to share with the people is how resilient African countries are. How resilient African people are. We have gone through a lot, so much, and yet we have that unity. Starting from the families, from the villages, from the churches, mosques, and other religious organizations. But also from regional blocs. So how do we lean on these partnerships and the unity we have to lift ourselves up? And that gives us the power to address our problems.

The second is community resilience. I mentioned communities in Mozambique, or even in my own village. I see people coming up with their own solutions because they know their own problems. Some of these solutions are traditional and authentic.

So whether it’s planting trees to protect the soil from climate change as part of the villages, there are small things that the communities are doing and can do that make a huge difference.

And frankly, given what is happening in the world, it is something that we should be very, very grateful for, for peace. You know, you look at the country like this, and there are over a hundred different ethnic groups, but there are no conflicts. That is something that is very unique, and we should be grateful for it.

Ms Msuya off-duty

Which one is your best read?

The Light We Carry by Michelle Obama I think she wrote the book during Covid-19. The world was in a dark place. And she talks about how each one of us has a light in ourselves, even though it can be dark. There is some light that we can see. For me, that’s hope. And we say hope is the parent of humanitarian work. Each person has a light.

What advice would you give to a 10-year-old girl inspired to be like you?

Take as many risks as you can because you don’t have any responsibility. For me, if I want to do something, I have to think, what does this mean for my husband, for my daughter, and for my son? Take as many risks as you can.

There is no stupid idea. Every idea is a good idea. Think about how to translate that idea into action. And then lastly, I would say, actually, maybe two things. I would say, don’t do the easy thing. Everyone in the world does easy things. For me, I’ve learned that the more difficult things I do, the better person and leader I become. It’s like going to the gym. You build your muscles by doing difficult things.

And lastly, don’t forget where you come from. Don’t forget your family. Jobs come and go. Family or friends will always be there. Your church, whatever you believe in, will always be there. So never forget where you come from.

What’s a constant in your fridge?

Eggs

What’s your best collection?

I wouldn’t call it a collection, but I do buy eyeglasses a lot. I own a number of them.

What is your typical day like?

I usually wake up between 5.30 and 6am, whether I’m in New York, or I’m in Dar, or wherever, and then I have what I call me-time, where the TV is off, and I just think, I pray, I have the Bible, I’m Christian, and then I just have quiet time and imagine what I need to do for the day.

Around 7 or 8, I would have a cup of coffee. If I don’t have any meetings, usually I do things for everybody, like walking, meditating, or just stretching, because now I’m getting older.

And then I have breakfast, and I look into my program. If I’m in New York, I usually have back-to-back meetings, briefing members, meeting this, meeting that. I usually eat one meal a day, so I have a very light breakfast, mostly protein, and then I would have food. I would go home, if I could, around 4 or 5 and cook. And then I would have a meal, sometimes a glass of wine, talk to my husband, watch the news, read newspapers, and then just go to bed.

And I go to bed early, like 10–11ish. So I wake up very early, and then I go to bed early. Nice.

How would you explain your wardrobe?

Ah! Feminine, chick, and professional. I don’t wear anything dull.

What is on your travel bucket list? A must-visit destination?

I haven’t been to Afghanistan, and I would like to go and check it out.

I’ve been to Yemen, Syria, Latin America, Italy, and other countries, but I haven’t been to Afghanistan.

A country that does not allow women to go to school or drive. I’ve been to Yemen, and I couldn’t travel with one of my colleagues who was Yemeni because she was not allowed to travel without a male relative.

But she was working for the UN, and I was to travel from the northern side to the south, and she was translating for me. She could not come with me to the northern part because, by law, she had to have a male member of the family go with her.

So in Afghanistan, that law is also there. And now, sadly, there’s a law: women are not allowed to go to school. Yeah. So that’s why I want to visit and see how life is for a woman born in Afghanistan.