Fractured

In this episode, we highlight a humanitarian crisis that has unfolded on the Polish-Belarusian border over the past five years. We examine the harsh mistreatment migrants endure from authorities on both sides, violent pushbacks, and the severe lack of essential humanitarian and emotional aid, as well as the flawed "age check" procedures that wrongly classify vulnerable children as adults...

In this episode, we spotlight the plight of the Rohingya, the largest stateless population in the world. We explore the harsh reality of living in overcrowded refugee camps across Bangladesh, where basic rights are stripped away. We discuss the ongoing lack of official refugee recognition, the severe barriers keeping an entire generation out of formal education, and what it truly means to survive...

In this episode, we sit down with Jad Sleilaty (@JadTalksPolitics) to unpack the current reality in Lebanon and the wider regional tensions affecting the country. We look at the prospects for lasting peace and discuss why Lebanon desperately needs a new way forward. Jad shares his vision for breaking the cycle of crisis and what it takes to build a stable, hopeful future for the Lebanese people....

In this Summer Short we speak with Claude Jonkmans, founder of EmpowerVan, about their work delivering self-defence training in Kakuma Refugee Camp. Together, we explore what empowerment looks like in one of the world’s largest and most protracted refugee settings and why programs like this are critical in contexts marked by insecurity, poverty and limited opportunity. We unpack daily life in Kaku...

In this Summer Short, independent Venezuelan journalist Gabriela Ramírez offers an on-the-ground perspective on societal sentiment following the fall of Nicolás Maduro. We discuss the complex emotions and hopes shaping the nation’s future, while emphasizing that meaningful recovery requires deep structural reform rather than superficial shifts in power. 👉 Watch the full episode now: https://youtu...

Since this week marks 5 years since the Taliban took over power in Kabul, we are returning to episode with Shawn VanDiver, founder of #AfghanEvac, who breaks down why international normalisation of relations with the Taliban must never happen without fundamental policy changes protecting women and girls. We discuss the global authority failure to hold the regime accountable and the urgent need for...

In this Summer Short, search and rescue volunteer Seán Binder opens up about his harrowing arrest, pre-trial detention, and the absurd criminal charges he faced simply for saving migrant lives at sea off the coast of Lesvos. We discuss how the EU is failing to uphold its core human rights obligations and why public oversight is so critical in resisting the growing criminalization of humanitarian a...

At the very beginning of the civilian protest in Iran, Eli sheds light on the struggle of the Iranian people as they stand up for their fundamental rights against a terrorist regime. We discuss the frustrating silence of the international community in the face of injustice and the unwavering resilience of Iranians fighting for freedom. 👉 Watch the full episode now to hear more of Eli's story and...

To mark our milestone 100th episode, we are looking back to where it all began. In our very first episode, recorded just six months after the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, we analyzed a rapidly deteriorating humanitarian crisis and dared to ask a heavy question: What happens if Russia invades Ukraine? Just one week later, the invasion began, shifting the global landscape forever. In this spec...

The latest UNHCR Global Trends report may suggest a slight decline in the number of refugees worldwide, but does that really mean the crisis is easing? In this episode of Fractured, we unpack the numbers behind the headlines and explain why there is little reason for optimism. We discuss how many of those counted as "returns" were anything but voluntary, with people forced to leave host...

Since the Summer of 2021 thousands of people from the Middle East, Africa, and Asia were brutally drawn to the Polish-Belarusian border by the Belarusian regime, only to find themselves trapped between two states unwilling to let them pass. As an outcome of that, the Polish government suspended the right to asylum at the border. In this episode we discussed what has changed at the border over the...

Barham Salih, UNHCR High Commissioner, stated in the foreword for the UNHCR Global Report 2025, that “the number of people under UNHCR’s mandate has almost doubled over the past decade, from 63.9 million to 129.4 million, yet humanitarian financing moved sharply in the opposite direction.” Perhaps nowhere has this been felt more acutely than in Sudan, where over 14.5 million people are either inte...

In the latest episode of Fractured we explore the complex security crisis in Mali and the Sahel region, focusing on the impact on civilians, the role of Wagner's Africa Corps, and the broader geopolitical implications. Featuring journalist Monika Prończuk, we shed light on human rights abuses and regional migration. We ask about the international accountability for human rights abuses and war...

In April 2026, around 250 Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals were reported missing after a boat departing from Teknaf capsized in the Andaman Sea. Only 9 people survived. In the first 4 months of 2026 more than 2,800 Rohingya had already attempted crossings, with most aiming at reaching Malaysia. In this Humanitarian Watch we explain what pushes displaced Rohingya to take this extremely d...

In this episode of Fractured, Douglas and Ziad Ibraheem who comes out from behind the camera for a change, to connect with Jad Sleilaty, a Lebanese political science graduate student and civil engineer. HIs channel @JadTalksPolitics dives into the current situation in Lebanon, regional conflicts, the prospect for peace, and advocates for another way forward for Lebanon. Lebanon is currently in a s...

In this episode we speak with Claude Jonkmans, founder of EmpowerVan, about their work delivering self-defence training in Kakuma Refugee Camp. Together, we explore what empowerment looks like in one of the world’s largest and most protracted refugee settings and why programs like this are critical in contexts marked by insecurity, poverty and limited opportunity. We unpack daily life in Kakuma, t...

In this episode of Fractured we trace how EU migration policy has shifted since 2015. We unpack the initial emergency measures, including the relocation scheme that aimed to redistribute 160,000 asylum seekers across EU member states but ultimately relocated only around 35% of that target. And since March marked 10 years since the EU–Turkey deal, we devote part of the episode to remind you that un...

According to the UNHCR up to 3.2 million Iranians have now been internally displaced in Iran by the recent escalation of hostilities. Most people flee big cities and move towards north and rural areas. Few crossed the border to Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan and the Gulf countries. Two weeks into the war in Iran we are looking closer into the situation of displaced Iranians. We are also speaking to L...

No other topic feels right this week but the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full scale invasion on Ukraine. In this episode of Humanitarian Watch we discuss where we are so many years into this conflict and what is the situation of millions of displaced Ukrainians.  As of early 2025, around 6.7-6.9 million refugees from Ukraine have fled abroad. About 93 % into the EU countries. The number of inte...

In this conversation, Gaby Ramirez, a Venezuelan journalist, discusses the current political situation in Venezuela following the extradition of Maduro. She highlights the complexities of the political landscape, the role of the United States, and the challenges faced by Venezuelans both inside and outside the country. Gaby emphasizes the need for a democratic transition and the importance of Vene...

In this conversation, Sean Binder discusses his experience as one of the Free Humanitarians who faced serious charges in Greece for their humanitarian work. He reflects on the motivations behind the prosecution, the emotional toll of the trial, and the implications for humanitarian efforts in the region. Sean emphasizes the importance of understanding the broader context of migration policies and...

In this episode, Eli shares a harrowing account of the current situation in Iran amidst ongoing protests and a severe digital blackout. We discuss the challenges faced by Iranians in communicating with their loved ones and the dire consequences of the regime's violent crackdown on dissent. Eli emphasizes the urgency of the situation, detailing the rising death toll and the emotional toll on fa...

In this episode we dive deep into the dire humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan- from severe economic struggles, the rise in child labor and early marriages, the state of journalism under Taliban rule, and most importantly the systemic oppression of women. Our Special guest this week- Qais Alamdar, an Afghan researcher, analyst and founder of Intelfocus, also unpacks the complexities of internationa...

At the beginning of November the German chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that for Syrians living in Germany, the grounds for asylum no longer apply — because the war in Syria is considered over. He appeared to contradict his foreign minister, Johann Wadephul, who after a visit to Damascus the week before expressed doubt that many Syrians would choose to return given the devastation and ongoing ins...

Shawn VanDiver, president and founder of #AfghanEvac, discusses the critical situation of Afghan allies left behind after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. He shares the formation of #AfghanEvac, the challenges faced by Afghan refugees, and the impact of U.S. government policies on their resettlement. The conversation emphasizes the importance of advocacy, coalition building, and the need for...