Ep 61 - Colonialism and COVID-19: A Global Pandemic in Need of a Local Response

Conversations from the Leading Edge

Humanitarian efforts were and still are dominated by donors and organizations based in the United States and Europe. However, these efforts are frequently targeted at low and middle-income countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, often without taking into account the perspectives and expertise of affected persons. This system replicates colonial structures and power dynamics and is reflected in the Covid-19 response as well. In this episode, we will tackle the intersection of colonialism, COVID-19, and the need for greater support for localized responses, with an example from the city of Mogadishu in Somalia. We talk to Dr. Hodan Ali, Director of the Durable Solutions Unit, a local government body that responds to humanitarian needs. She is also the co-founder of the Refuge Hamilton Centre for Newcomer Health in Ontario Canada. For more information on the DSU: - This is their website: https://dsu.so/ - Follow them on twitter: https://twitter.com/DSUBenadir - Take a look at their strategical plan: "Moving forward: Finding lasting solutions for urban displacement" - https://dsu.so/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/DSU_strategy_report_2020_v11.pdf - Take a look at their Forced Evictions Committee report -https://dsu.so/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/idp_report-1.pdf The song you hear in this episode is "Uur Hooyo", by Hudeidi, featuring Aar Maanta, that you can find here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxbh6a3o8bA&ab_channel=AarMaanta