Amanpour UN High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Salih
Feb 18, 2026
Barham Salih, former Iraqi president and new UN refugee chief, reports from Kharkiv on mass displacement, winter hardships, and global refugee pressures. Joachim Trier, Norwegian filmmaker, discusses Sentimental Value, family trauma, and awards season. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN medical correspondent, compares Danish and U.S. childhood vaccine approaches. Jon Meacham, presidential historian, explores memory, contested history, and threats to democratic norms.
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Peace Restores Futures
- Barham Salih emphasizes that humanitarian action sustains lives but peace restores futures.
- He asserts there is no military solution and calls for durable, just peace backed by international engagement.
Winter Intensifies Humanitarian Needs
- Salih warns of mounting winter hardship as attacks cut heat, water, and electricity.
- He highlights a major funding gap: $470M requested versus about $150M funded for displaced Ukrainians.
Displacement Is Now A Global Crisis
- Salih frames global displacement as unprecedented, with 170 million people affected.
- He stresses the need to shift refugees from dependency to sustainable agency and economic contribution.