Caring for the mental health of aid workers | Global Stage

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Global humanitarian needs are rising sharply – right as the systems designed to respond to them are facing the deepest funding cuts in years. Subscribe to GZERO's YouTube channel and turn on notifications (🔔): http://www.youtube.com/@GZEROMedia Sign up for GZERO's free newsletters on global politics: https://www.gzeromedia.com/subscribe At a recent UN event focused on the well-being of aid workers, GZERO’s Tony Maciulis spoke with experts, including Zaman Rajabi, a UN mental health specialist, and Michel Saad, Deputy Director at the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, who leads efforts in the Middle East and North Africa. The discussion focused on the growing strain on global relief operations. The scale of displacement is accelerating. More than 120 million people were forcibly displaced worldwide in 2025, with conflicts in Gaza, Sudan, Ukraine, and Iran driving fresh instability. In Lebanon alone, more than one million people, roughly one-fifth of the population, have fled their homes since the latest Israel-Hezbollah conflict began. But as needs rise, funding is falling. Major donor countries including the US, Germany, and the UK have sharply reduced humanitarian contributions, creating widening gaps in food, shelter, healthcare, and emergency support. The conversation also highlights a less visible crisis: mental health. Rajabi notes that frontline aid workers face extreme psychological pressure, with many experiencing PTSD, burnout, and long-term trauma while operating in increasingly dangerous environments. Keep up with global news and why it matters. Follow GZERO! X: https://x.com/gzeromedia Instagram: https://instagram.com/gzeromedia PUPPET REGIME on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realpuppetregime/ TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@gzeromedia LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/gzeromedia Facebook: https://facebook.com/gzeromedia Threads: https://threads.net/@gzeromedia Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/gzeromedia.com GZERO World on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/po