Vivian van de Perre¡¯s calling is to help nations transition from conflict to peace. As Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Protection and Operations in the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), she leads a life-saving operation in the rebel-held city of Goma.
¡°It's tragic and it's unimaginable, but at the same time, people live their lives and they do the best they can, and they remain generous and warm, despite the circumstances that they live in. You go to these places and you see the worst and you see the best, and it's all in one package, and it is just something that really, really touches you. It's not like a regular job,¡± she said.
A recent peace accord raised hopes of an end to the violence that has plagued eastern DRC for the past three decades. In the latest episode of Awake at Night, which was recorded before the peace agreement, Ms. van de Perre reflects on the impact of funding cuts on active war zones, on peacekeeping as a delicate balancing act, and shares why she falls for every place she serves.
About Awake at Night:
Hosted by Melissa Fleming, Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, the podcast Awake at Night is an in-depth interview series focusing on remarkable United Nations staff members who dedicate their careers to helping people in parts of the world where they have the hardest lives ¨C from war zones and displacement camps to areas hit by disasters and the devastation of climate change.
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