Forced From Home
Displacement is reshaping our world – from Ukraine to Venezuela to the streets of American cities. It has gone from a fringe issue to the topic of daily headlines. But there is a ton of misinformation out there, and most people don’t know much about its causes – much less its solutions. On Forced from Home, we will talk to the people on the frontlines of global displacement and the global decision makers shaping how the world responds – about everything from life in a war zone to economics to politics. Listen in for smart, practical insights that will help make sense of these issues – and share ways that you can get engaged.
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“One Emergency After Another.” The Assault on Medical Care in Gaza with Dr. Thaer Ahmad
05/14/2026
“One Emergency After Another.” The Assault on Medical Care in Gaza with Dr. Thaer Ahmad
Despite a nominal ceasefire, life for people in Gaza remains grim, Israel continues to obstruct humanitarian and medical aid, and enormous needs persist. At this year’s Refugees International Advocacy Awards, we presented the Richard C. Holbrooke Leadership Award to Dr. Thaer Ahmad, in honor of Palestinian healthcare workers in Gaza whose extraordinary service has saved lives under unimaginable conditions. In this episode, we hear from Dr. Thaer Ahmad about his experience providing emergency medical care in Gaza, the consequences of the Israeli government’s restrictions on medical supplies and attacks on hospitals, and the importance of advocacy in the face of inhumanity. Timed Takeaways [3:00] Inside Gaza’s hospitals in the early days of the war [14:27] “On the brink of collapse”: the impacts of obstructing emergency medical equipment [22:25] “A miserable process:” medical evacuations for Palestinians in and from Gaza [27:33] Targeted violence on the health system in Gaza and the detention of Palestinian doctors [40:07] The West Bank: navigating emergency care as checkpoints proliferate [43:58] The power of advocacy: protesting the Biden administration’s military support to Israel [52:25] The harms of passive voice and the need to humanize Palestinian victims of violence [56:06] Roundup: Displacement in the news this week Mentioned in This Episode: - The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights - The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights - Refugees International - New York Times - Doctors without Borders - Refugees International - Director-General of the World Health Organization - BBC - Adalah - Doctors without Borders - NPR - American Foreign Service Association - The Key Magazine - New York Times - OCHA - BBC - Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review and consider a donation to support our work at https://give.refugeesinternational.org/a/forcedfromhome For more show episodes, visit https://refugeesinternational.org/forced-from-home-podcast Thoughts or suggestions? Get in touch with our team at Subscribe with us wherever you get your podcasts and follow Refugees International on social media @refugeesintl (Twitter/Instagram/Threads) and Refugees International (LinkedIn/Facebook/YouTube). You can also follow Jeremy on Twitter at @JeremyKonyndyk. This episode of “Forced from Home” was produced by Refugees International. Our technical director and sound designer is Joshua Suhy. Our executive producer is Madison Cullinan. The show’s production team also includes Eliza Leal and Sarah Sheffer. Our music is composed by Richard Adam Keyworth from Sound Pocket Music.
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“No one was spared.” The war in Sudan and the genocide in Darfur with Representative Sara Jacobs and Emi Mahmoud
04/30/2026
“No one was spared.” The war in Sudan and the genocide in Darfur with Representative Sara Jacobs and Emi Mahmoud
The world just passed the three year mark of the war in Sudan - the largest displacement and humanitarian crisis in the world. We spoke with U.S. Representative Sara Jacobs (D-CA) about the impact the war has had on Sudanese civilians and refugees, the role of external actors in fueling the conflict, and what the United States can do to help end it. Then, we met with Emi Mahmoud, a renowned poet, author, and humanitarian activist who grew up in Darfur to hear about the RSF’s genocidal violence in Darfur and how local community groups are supporting each other across Sudan. Timed Takeaways [0:46] Setting the scene: unpacking the scale of the crisis and warring parties in Sudan [4:24] Representative Jacobs on the impact of aid cuts for Sudanese refugees [8:00] Representative Jacobs on the role of the UAE in fueling the conflict in Sudan [13:35] Representative Jacobs on needed U.S. leadership and congressional engagement to end the war in Sudan [19:20] Representative Jacobs on setting the record straight about migration management at the U.S. southern border [24:03] Emi Mahmoud on the RSF’s atrocities and siege of El Fasher, Darfur [33:00] Emi Mahmoud on the role of racism and Arabization in the war in Sudan [43:44] Preventing further deaths in Sudan and ways to take action [52:08] Roundup: Displacement in the news this week [54:30] Tribute to former Refugees International President Lionel Rosenblatt Mentioned in This Episode: – Refugees International - New York Times – Refugees International – Refugees International – New York Times - Just Security – Refugees International - New York Times - Washington Post If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review and consider a donation to support our work at https://give.refugeesinternational.org/a/forcedfromhome For more show episodes, visit https://refugeesinternational.org/forced-from-home-podcast Thoughts or suggestions? Get in touch with our team at Subscribe with us wherever you get your podcasts and follow Refugees International on social media @refugeesintl (Twitter/Instagram/Threads) and Refugees International (LinkedIn/Facebook/YouTube). You can also follow Jeremy on Twitter at @JeremyKonyndyk. This episode of “Forced from Home” was produced by Refugees International. Our technical director and sound designer is Joshua Suhy. Our executive producer is Madison Cullinan. The show’s production team also includes Etant Dupain, Eliza Leal, and Sarah Sheffer. Our music is composed by Richard Adam Keyworth from Sound Pocket Music. And special thanks to Dan Sullivan and Mohammed Naeem.
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The Human Cost of the War in Iran with Vali Nasr
04/17/2026
The Human Cost of the War in Iran with Vali Nasr
Forced from Home is proud to present our first-ever episode. In just a month and half, the US/Israeli war with Iran has been felt across the Middle East, and millions of people have been forcibly displaced within their country and across borders. From Iran to Lebanon, civilians are experiencing grave harm from constant bombardment on critical civilian infrastructure, including power plants, schools, health care facilities, and historical sites. Vali Nasr is a professor of international affairs and Middle East studies at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies and a New York Times bestselling author on Iran. Nasr is the author, most recently, of “Iran's Grand Strategy: A Political History by Vali Nasr.” We sat down to discuss the human toll of the conflict and how Iranians are experiencing the war; the risk that state collapse in Iran could spark mass regional displacement; and how the erosion of international humanitarian law is ultimately a threat to regional stability. [2:19] The outlook for the war [7:12] Iranians are experiencing a deliberate “war against the people” [12:44] “Gaza rules” and the implications for US strategic aims [17:51] Is “state collapse” plausible? [22:58] Displacement dynamics - where might Iranians seek refuge? [25:09] Iran’s regional proxies and their links to humanitarian crises [31:02] Setting the record straight: the risks of destroying social fabrics [36:30] Roundup: Displacement in the news this week Mentioned in This Episode: - NYT - Gita Wirjawan - Refugees International - PBS - Refugees International If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review and consider a donation to support our work at https://give.refugeesinternational.org/a/forcedfromhome For more show episodes, visit https://refugeesinternational.org/forced-from-home-podcast Thoughts or suggestions? Get in touch with our team at Subscribe with us wherever you get your podcasts and follow Refugees International on social media @refugeesintl (Twitter/Instagram/Threads) and Refugees International (LinkedIn/Facebook/YouTube). You can also follow Jeremy on Twitter at @JeremyKonyndyk. This episode of “Forced from Home” was produced by Refugees International. Our technical director and sound designer is Joshua Suhy. Our executive producer is Madison Cullinan. The show’s production team also includes Etant Dupain, Eliza Leal, and Sarah Sheffer. Our music is composed by Richard Adam Keyworth from Sound Pocket Music. And special thanks to Darya and Vali Nasr.
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Forced From Home
03/30/2026
Forced From Home
Welcome to "Forced From Home"
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