On 29 June 2015, PHAP hosted a live online briefing and consultation event on the topic of “Migrants in Crisis." Supporting the World Humanitarian Summit consultations, the event is organized in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the NGO Committee on Migration.

In crisis situations around the world, we need to more effectively prepare for and respond to the particular circumstances of migrants affected by or trapped in crises – leveraging their resourcefulness and networks while preserving their rights. The World Humanitarian Summit consultation process and associated initiatives provide a timely and inclusive platform to understand and address this phenomenon in a holistic manner. This event aims to stimulate discussion, raise awareness, and provide an impetus for action in this area.

This event featured presentations by IOM’s Director of Operations and Emergencies, Mr. Mohammed Abdiker, and the International Catholic Migration Commission’s (ICMC) Head of Policy, Mr. John Bingham, addressing how the World Humanitarian Summit must give due consideration to the plight of migrants caught in crisis situations, and commit to the meaningful inclusion of migrants into the humanitarian architecture. The event was moderated by Ms. Angharad Laing, Executive Director of the International Association of Professionals in Humanitarian Assistance and Protection.

Speakers

Mohammed Abdiker Mohammed Abdiker serves as the Director of the Department of Operations and Emergencies at the Headquarters of the International Organization for Migration. His department leads the response and coordination of all humanitarian and post crisis efforts including movements operations and the Ebola response programme. He also serves as the focal point for IOM’s humanitarian coordination with partners, including at the working groups of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee. Mr. Abdiker began his rich professional career with IOM in 1996, working on the United States Refugee Resettlement and Cultural Orientation programmes in Kenya. Since then, he has accumulated over 19 years of field experience on a range of migration issues in crisis and post crisis settings for IOM, which he brings to the role of Director. This includes serving as Chief of Mission in Sri Lanka (2007- 2010); and the Chief of Mission in Zimbabwe (2003-2007); as well as covering the return and resettlement of refugees for IOM offices in Ethiopia, Kenya, and West Africa. He has also focused extensively on IOM’s Disarmament Demobilization and Reintegration programming.
John K. Bingham John K. Bingham is ICMC’s Head of Policy. Beginning at the end of 2010 and through 2017, Mr. Bingham and ICMC are to take a leading role in coordinating civil activities in the framework of the Global Forum on Migration and Development. In 2013, Mr. Bingham and ICMC coordinated civil society within the processes of that year’s High-Level Dialogue on International Migration and Development in the UN General Assembly. Before joining ICMC in 2005, Mr. Bingham worked for eight years for Catholic Charities in New York, where he was director of Immigrant and Refugee Services and later Capital Projects and Law. He served as Chair of the Board of the New York Immigration Coalition, an advocacy network of 180 member organizations. During the eight prior years, he taught human rights and criminal justice in a refugee camp of 240,000 Cambodians in Thailand, and business law at the university in Phnom Penh, where he co-authored two books, Free Market Contract Law and an English-Cambodian Law Dictionary. A graduate of Fordham Law School and St. John’s University in New York, Mr. Bingham worked for eight years in the legal department of a major Wall Street investment bank, where he was Vice President.

Event host

Angharad Laing Angharad Laing Executive Director, International Association of Professionals in Humanitarian Assistance and Protection (PHAP)

Recordings

Event recording (YouTube - faster loading time)

Event recording (Adobe Connect - higher quality)

Event recording (downloadable audio podcast)

Event report