ZIF XChange Space: High-Level Discussions on Current Crises in Syria and Sudan
Last week, the Center for International Peace Operations (ZIF) hosted two exclusive sessions of its ZIF XChange Space at Ludwigkirchplatz. This special discussion format brought together experts, decision-makers, and practitioners to analyze current international crises and explore potential solutions.
On Wednesday, the political situation in the Middle East was in the spotlight. Under the title "The New Political Order in the Middle East – Challenges and Opportunities for Germany and International Partners", Ambassador Deike Potzel, Special Envoy for Humanitarian Assistance in the Near and Middle East and Director-General at the German Federal Foreign Office, Ted Chaiban, Deputy Executive Director for Humanitarian Action and Supply at UNICEF, and Syrian-German activist Ehab Badwi (NGO EdTech) engaged in a discussion moderated by Verena Knaus from UNICEF Berlin. The discussion focused on the current situation in Syria, addressing urgent humanitarian needs, reconstruction efforts, challenges related to food insecurity, destroyed infrastructure, and global budget cuts in international aid. The aim was to identify courses of action for the international community.
On Thursday, the focus shifted to Sudan, a country facing a catastrophic humanitarian crisis. Since the outbreak of war, more than 12 million people have been displaced, two-thirds of the population depend on humanitarian aid, and famine is spreading. Dr. Annette Weber, EU Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, discussed priorities and courses of action within the European context with the participants. The urgency of coordinated international measures became particularly evident in the lively and in-depth debate.
With the ZIF XChange Space, ZIF creates an open platform for dialogue among experts, political decision-makers, and practitioners. The goal is to bring together different perspectives and jointly develop sustainable solutions to global challenges. After all, only through international cooperation can effective responses to current crises be found.