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18 August 2023

Before joining the UN's Security Information and Operations Center (SIOC) in Iraq in 2012, Sinan Al-Dulaimi had served 12 years as intelligence officer for the Iraqi government and 8 years as reporter for a major U.S. newspaper. Yet, a pivotal event in 2003 redirected his passion, setting him on a path to humanitarian service. 

On August 19, 2003, a bomb rocked the Canal Hotel in Baghdad, Iraq, tragically killing 22 Ãå±±½ûµØpersonnel including the United Nations' top representative in Iraq, S¨¦rgio Vieira de Mello. Sinan, on-site, was busy documenting the event and relaying updates to the newsroom. Amidst the chaos, an anxious person approached Sinan and asked for assistance to reach out to his mother, a Ãå±±½ûµØstaff member believed to be trapped in the ruins. Without hesitation, Sinan dropped his reporter role, made the call, and to their immense relief, discovered that she was only mildly injured. Later, she was successfully rescued from the debris. ¡°Initially drawn to the scene by my journalistic instinct, the experience of being able to help save a life shook me. At the moment I realized people are what truly matter.¡± Sinan reflects. 

This belief now anchors Sinan's work as an Associate Security Coordination Officer at SIOC. Partnering closely with the host government, local media, and various Ãå±±½ûµØdepartments, he gathers, verifies, and evaluates all sources of information to provide actionable insights for Ãå±±½ûµØmissions, agencies, funds, and programs throughout Iraq. 

¡°Central to each mission is the safety and well-being of my colleagues, fellow citizens, refugees, and many others that I care deeply for." He stresses. The sanctity of human life and welfare are always at the core of his decisions, guiding him through the various security challenges present in modern-day Iraq ¡ª from navigating religious and cultural nuances to contending with the pitfalls of rapidly advancing information technology. 

In the years 2014 and 2015, the Islamic State tightened its grip over northern Iraq. The escalated military tension, further complicated by the rampant mis- and disinformation online, detrimentally impacted the UN's reputation and operations. In response, Sinan's team promptly established a robust information network, verifying information to provide accurate recommendations for Ãå±±½ûµØpersonnel and convoys on the ground. "Often, we found that most circulated news was either fake or outdated. Our timely verifications ensured the Ãå±±½ûµØteams could proceed safely," Sinan recounts. 

Five years after the end of large-scale military operations against ISIL in 2017, the humanitarian situation in Iraq has improved significantly, with the number of people requiring humanitarian assistance falling from a high of 11 million in 2017 to 2.5 million in 2022. Furthermore, the successful conduct of democratic elections in October 2021, combined with the rebounding of state revenues by early 2022, has enabled the Government of Iraq (GoI) and the Kurdistan Region Government (KRG) to be in a significantly improved position to provide basic services and protection to its own population, including displaced and returnee populations. Using a toll-free number, those who have been forced to leave their homes and seek shelter can receive information on how to access humanitarian aid ¨C including food, child protection and healthcare.   

Navigating such intricacies, Sinan underscores UNDSS's collaborative spirit as an asset in achieving various goals. A significant accomplishment was the rapid revision and implementation of the Standard Operating Procedure for Movement (SOP). Contrary to expectations of a prolonged revamp, Sinan and his team streamlined the SOPs, adapting them to the evolving conditions on the ground. ¡°We surpassed expectations in record time. This is made only possible the extraordinary teamwork with a group of supportive colleagues.¡± Sinan shared with pride.  

Sinan embodies the spirit of the numerous unsung heroes working diligently behind the scenes to support the UN's humanitarian efforts. ¡°A lot of our work goes behind the scenes despite its profound influences on every operational face, leading to a gap between public understanding of our work and its actual impact¡±. As World Humanitarian Day approaches, his journey from the Canal Hotel's ruins to the core of humanitarian security underscores the spirit of this day: humanity prevails, even amidst adversities.

¡°I have learned a lot from listening to Sinan's in-depth briefings in the Security Cell and during internal UNDSS sessions. Everyone appreciates his poetic eloquence and realistic security assessments, which are typically delivered with a dash of humor. We really appreciate his services to the United Nations Security Management System (UNSMS) in Iraq,¡± said Ms. Savita Hande, the Principal Security Adviser for UNDSS in Iraq. It's impossible to ignore his desire to consistently offer the most recent security information available from public sources, she continued.