ALAN DEVE

Alan Deve, 50, from Milton Keynes is a protection associate based in the London office. He joined in 2006 and has worked in Turkey, Kenya, Uganda and Zwedru, Liberia, where he is now attached to the emergency response for the Ivory Coast situation.

In Liberia, a typical day involves venturing out to reception centres, border points and the host community to meet new arrivals, refugees and locals. The aim is to support the displaced without resorting to camps. This involves mapping populations and assessing the needs of refugees and hosts to better target education, water and sanitation and health support, while encouraging social cohesion.

While away from the UK, he misses access to good services, decent internet, stable electricity and the variety of food. “These are things that you do not take for granted in the field,” he said.

Lifelong friendships spanning the entire globe, with colleagues at all levels, while delivering help to those who need it the most.

A low point in Alan’s career was catching malaria in Kitgum, Uganda. “It was scary,” he said. “I had not been exposed to malaria for nearly 25 years and I was hundreds of miles from the capital and malaria tends to be fatal in those circumstances.” Fortunately, he made a full recovery.

© Alan Deve

Alan Deve is currently working in Liberia, assisting with the emergency response for the Ivory Coast situation.

Among the highs was a car journey with the former UN High Commissioner for Refugees (and current UN Secretary General) Antonio Guterres from Lancaster House to London City Airport along with International Rescue Committee CEO David Miliband. “I was too star-struck to ask for a selfie,” he said.

For UNHCR to operate better, Alan believes more resources are needed in the most remote locations. “The cooperation of governments in creating measures enhancing, rather than restricting, access to asylum, is crucial to make UNHCR a more effective organisation,” he added.

Alan sums up his career so far: “Forming lifelong friendships spanning the entire globe, with colleagues at all levels, while delivering help to those who need it the most.”