Fractured

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...

Humanitarian Watch is back for Season 05 premiere with Sonia giving in to Doug's burning need to talk about all the disturbing developments in Greek refugee policies and practices. In This Episode:-continuity of suspension of right to asylum-closure of Helios Housing program-cutting refugee aid in half-nationalising services in refugee camps-further criminalisation of refugees-Migration Minister's...

The UK’s approach to housing refugees and asylum seekers has shifted dramatically in recent years. Traditionally, long-term private rental housing was preferred, but since 2020, the increase of asylum cases has resulted in increased reliance on temporary and hotel accommodation. As of March 2025, nearly one-third of asylum seekers were in contingency or hotel accommodation - up from just 5% in 202...

This was just a brief excerpt from a much larger conversation with Klaas van Dijken - co-founder of Lighthouse Reports, independent journalist For the full episode go here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2DFZuEw-MM&list=PLIU3A1qWAMTw2W9iCAhSddO3Rq_XkWTBc&index=24 For a year journalists connected to the Lighthouse Reports investigated the treatment of asylum seekers and migrants in North...

This was just a brief excerpt from a much larger conversation with Amjid Khazir, founder and CEO of Media Cultured. For the full episode go here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nh2MnCmUTk&list=PLIU3A1qWAMTw2W9iCAhSddO3Rq_XkWTBc&index=28 In this episode, Amjid emphasizes the importance of engaging youth, understanding the trends in radicalization, and the role of social media in spreading...

This was just a brief excerpt from a much larger conversation Ben Rawlence - Founding director of Black Mountains College, Author “City of Thorns”You can WATCH FULL EPISODE HERE - https://youtu.be/KvRWr8YZO_Y?si=mRuGpGtCHHm6V19qBen shares his experiences and insights from his time in the Dadaab refugee camp, discussing the complexities of life for refugees, the cultural tensions between different...

In this compelling episode of Fractured, we delve deep into the ongoing refugee crisis at the Polish-Belarusian border. Our guest, Anna Alboth, a journalist and human rights activist, brings firsthand insights into this humanitarian disaster. Anna has been working closely with refugees affected by this crisis and provides a unique perspective on the political, social, and human rights issues at pl...

In this episode of Fractured we discuss the complexity of migration dynamics in West Africa, particularly focusing on Senegal and Mauritania. Monika Pronczuk, a correspondent for the Associated Press, discusses the increasing trends of migration, the push factors driving individuals to leave their homes, and the role of smugglers in facilitating these journeys. The conversation highlights the econ...

Fetisov and Lorenzo Natali award-winning investigative journalist Gabriela Ramirez, discusses her investigative journalism story "Widowed by Europe's Borders” about Sanooja's frantic fight to find her husband Sanrim, who went missing in the forest after being illegally pushed back by Lithuanian authorities. The couple from Sri Lanka, highlights the struggles faced by migrants at Europ...

This was just a brief excerpt from a much larger conversation with the an international child protection specialist and former UNICEF staff Patrizia Benvenuti. You can WATCH FULL EPISODE HERE - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiJ84fk0FqoIn this episode of FRACTURED we return to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Our guest, Patrizia Benvenuti—who has served on multiple missions in the region—shares f...

This was just a brief excerpt from a much larger conversation with the an independent journalist Lydia Emmanouilidou. You can WATCH FULL EPISODE HERE - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiJ84fk0Fqo Two years after the tragic Pylos shipwreck that claimed over 600 lives off the Greek coast, we take a closer look at what’s changed and what hasn’t. In this episode we speak with independent journalist Ly...