“I have been displaced from my own home at the age of three or four, when we left home in Somalia,” Yahya recalls.
Islamabad: In an extraordinary testament to resilience and dedication, Mohamed Yahya, a former child refugee from Somalia, has assumed the role of United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator in Pakistan. His journey from fleeing war-torn Somalia to becoming a key figure in international humanitarian efforts is nothing short of inspirational.
Yahya’s personal experiences of displacement imbue his work with a profound empathy. In the latest episode of ‘Awake at Night,’ a podcast hosted by Melissa Fleming, the UN’s Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, Yahya shares the poignant story of his life in the episode titled “No Place Like Home.”
“I have been displaced from my own home at the age of three or four, when we left home in Somalia,” Yahya recalls. “A little bit of me was, I must say, envious of them, that they’re able to go back home. I always imagine how I’ll feel when I go back home without fear. As a refugee, there’s always a sense of something missing. Because you’re deprived of going back to where you were born.”
Before his current appointment in Pakistan, Yahya served as the UN Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative in Nigeria. His tenure there was marked by significant achievements, particularly in helping displaced communities return home after fleeing the terror of Boko Haram. These experiences are not just professional milestones for Yahya but also deeply personal victories, reflecting his lifelong mission to alleviate the suffering of displaced populations.
In his new role, Yahya’s responsibilities are expansive and critical. As the UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Pakistan, he oversees the UN’s efforts to support the country’s development goals, particularly its ambitious targets under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). His work is also pivotal in addressing climate-induced crises, such as flooding, which have become increasingly prevalent.
“We at the UN are in the business of hope and selling hope,” Yahya emphasizes. “Many things concern me, including climate risk. But we signed up to this job to work for the UN, to do what we do so that we can help the world. So it can be a better place for everybody, including my own daughter.”
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Yahya’s journey from a refugee camp to the highest echelons of the UN is a powerful narrative of hope and determination. His story not only highlights the possibilities that lie within every individual, regardless of their beginnings, but also underscores the critical role of empathy and personal experience in humanitarian work.
As Yahya embarks on this new chapter in Pakistan, his unique perspective as a former refugee will undoubtedly enrich his contributions to the UN’s mission. His leadership stands as a beacon of hope for millions of displaced individuals worldwide, embodying the UN’s enduring commitment to creating a better, more inclusive world.
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