The next earthquake strikes, or the next conflict erupts. Communities take refuge in temporary shelters. United Nations agencies and nongovernmental organizations scramble to respond with food and medical supplies.
In the midst of the crisis response, with limited resources available to save lives and livelihoods, would it be justified to send cameras, computers and transmitters, so people affected by the disaster can share their stories with the rest of the world?
For Jan Mattsson, this is more than a thought experiment. A U.N. veteran who worked at the organization for more than three decades, Mattsson is leading an effort to create a museum dedicated to the United Nations, and these are the stories he and his team want to fill it with.
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About the author
Michael Igoe@AlterIgoe
Michael Igoe is a Senior Reporter with Devex, based in Washington, D.C. He covers U.S. foreign aid, global health, climate change, and development finance. Prior to joining Devex, Michael researched water management and climate change adaptation in post-Soviet Central Asia, where he also wrote for EurasiaNet. Michael earned his bachelor's degree from Bowdoin College, where he majored in Russian, and his master’s degree from the University of Montana, where he studied international conservation and development.
