Ahmed Alameldeen

Ahmed Alameldeen (September 23, 1987) is an Egyptian-Italian humanitarian aid worker who has worked for the United Nations. With a decade of experience, he has a strong network to effectively manage relief services for critical populations in hostile and dangerous regions. His mission is to contribute to revolutionizing the industry and catalyze change in the global approach to humanitarian services. With his research and negotiation abilities as an international humanitarian affairs advocate, he has made significant contributions to this field, evidenced by his coursework and projects.

Early life and education

Alameldeen was born in Cairo, Egypt. He graduated from Cairo University with a bachelor’s in pharmaceutical sciences and a master’s in international humanitarian affairs from the University of York in the United Kingdom. While studying for pharmacy in Egypt, where he volunteered to distribute medicine and food in rural areas of Cairo, he found his passion for working as a humanitarian.

His dissertation was titled The Use of Humanitarian Diplomacy as a Tool in Humanitarian Negotiation for Effective Humanitarian Delivery.

Career

Throughout his ten-year career, Alameldeen has managed field and program operations in Syria, Iraq, Somalia, Nigeria, Libya, Liberia, Lebanon, Tunisia, Turkey, Jordan, Laos, and Egypt. He has worked for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Doctors Without Borders (MSF), and other humanitarian organizations.

2010 - 2013

Somalia was hit by famine, drought, and an internal conflict in 2010-2011. The famine was Somalia’s worst in over 25 years. Humanitarian workers, including Alameldeen and his team, were sent to assist with the ongoing catastrophe. Alameldeen was stationed in a field surgical facility in Mogadishu, Somalia, where he performed his duties as a Pharmacist and Field Coordinator. His team performed routine surgeries on individuals injured due to the conflict between the government and armed non-state actors. The resources there were the least when the country suffered, which put Alameldeen under responsibility to deliver more to the affected communities as he executed his duties as a Pharmacist and Field Coordinator.

The Syrian crisis resulted in a rise in population displacement and infrastructural degradation, producing ideal conditions for the spread of Leishmaniasis, specifically Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) throughout the country. As the Operations Office for the MENTOR initiative, he launched the project in August 2013 to promote the treatment of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Syria. To protect people living in rural areas from insects, Alameldeen provided long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) and curtains (LLICs).

2014 - 2016

In August 2014, in Liberia, Alameldeen began working with the International Committee of the Red Cross in response to the Ebola virus in West Africa. As a medical logistician, he was responsible for obtaining medical supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) for health workers treating Ebola patients.

Following Liberia, Alameldeen spent a year in Nigeria, working in the medical supply department, in response to the Lake Chad Crisis. This mission took place in Nigeria’s north-eastern region.

After finishing his job in Nigeria, he changed departments to focus on field operations and frontline negotiations when he began working in Iraq in September 2016. During his time with the ICRC, exposure to a variety of initiatives enabled him to gain a proper understanding of what is going on in the sector. This helped him develop a more empathic mindset and assisted him in dealing with the actual issues. In September 2016, he arrived in Iraq to manage the ICRC’s humanitarian field activities related to the Mosul Operation. He was in charge of frontline negotiations and humanitarian diplomacy to access areas stranded by military operations to aid humanitarian activities.

Alameldeen worked with Abundant Water as a Program Officer in July 2014.

2020 - present

In September 2020, Alameldeen was appointed by the United Nations Population Fund for the planning, coordination, and implementation of humanitarian interventions for those affected by the Beirut blast. His responsibilities included rapid assessments, program development, and implementation.

Alameldeen worked for the United Nations as a Humanitarian Affairs Officer.

Research

To date, Alameldeen has published more than five research studies across various international affairs topics related to humanitarian aid. He capitalizes on elaborating concepts in utilizing varied perceptions and analyses on humanitarian services across the Middle Eastern and African regions to gather adequate resources to promote change and improve respective civic communities.

Publications

• Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) & Relationship Building Techniques for Frontline Humanitarian Aid Workers

• Monitoring and Evaluation Review of a Leishmaniasis Control Program in Syria

• Violations of International Humanitarian Law: Threats to Noncombatants in the Syrian Crises, 2011-2020

• What is a Resilient Community?

• The Relevance of Humanitarian Principles in Contemporary International Humanitarian Affairs

• The Structural Shortcomings of INEE: An Intersectional Perspective on Young Women of Afghanistan

• Role and Strategies of International Humanitarian Organizations in Handling the Liberia Ebola Outbreak