The United Nations Millennium Campaign participated in the Humanitarian Affairs Segment (HAS) put on by the UN Economic and Social Affairs Council (ECOSOC) at the Palais des Nations in Geneva on 17-19 June 2015, with the support of OCHA.
This event provided a unique opportunity for Member States to address challenges, operational and normative progress on the humanitarian policy agenda. This year’s focus was on the future of humanitarian affairs: towards greater inclusiveness, coordination, interoperability and effectiveness.
Over 300 participants from various NGOs, member states, and UN agencies, including the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Stephen O’Brien, had the opportunity to “travel” to the Za’atari camp in Jordan and witness the daily life of 12-year old Sidra by immersing themselves in the virtual reality experience of Clouds Over Sidra. Participants noted:
“I was really blown away by Clouds Over Sidra – amazing technology and such a moving story. I have a twelve-year-old girl myself, so it was particularly poignant.”
“I have always been a bit old-fashioned and skeptical towards new technologies that are said to be game changers, but this one definitely is!”
Clouds Over Sidra is the first in a series of United Nations Millennium Campaign Virtual Reality films, with the goal of ensuring that citizen’s voices are directly involved in the design and accountability framework of the new international development agenda.
of the Economic and Social Council, Tunisia. Photo: OCHA/Vincent Fung
