Asaka Nyangara: Risky business- Serving humanity in war torn countries

ASAKA NYANGARA risks his life to serve humanity in countries where many aid workers have been killed, maimed and kidnapped. He spoke to JAMES OMORO about what drives him.

Who is Asaka Nyangara?

I am a Kenyan born in Nyakach, Kisumu County. I went to school at Kabondo Primary School and later joined Starehe Boys Centre. I then joined the University of Nairobi in 1999. At the university, I studied Applied Mathematics and graduated with Bsc (Applied Mathematics).

I later furthered my studies through self-sponsorship to graduate with Masters in Business Leadership from the University of South Africa. I am presently undertaking studies on Doctorate of Business Leadership at Webster University.

What’s your career background?

My childhood dream was to be a medical doctor. However, when I visited my friend at Chiromo lab when he was doing his practical lessons on cadavers, I felt so nauseated and got scared and that is what killed this dream.

I later developed a dream of working for European Union or the United Nations because of their development records across the globe. I almost landed a job with the EU in 1994 but was not qualified because I had no Masters Degree then. Then the drought of 1994 occurred affecting various parts of the Horn of Africa and I saw how the UN was responding and saving lives.

This made me to develop strong interest in the United Nations to support humanitarian needs around the world. After various posting with humanitarian agencies, I joined the UN. I am now the UN World Food Programme Country Director in Yemen.

Where did the inspiration to do aid work come from?

The inspiration came from my humble background during which affording food in a day was never guaranteed. I know the pains of hunger, the feelings of being out of school because of lack of school fees, the cold that comes with lack of proper clothes, the sorrow of being sick without medicine and the struggling of mothers fending for their children.

My work has given me the opportunity to give back to people faced with similar circumstances that I faced while growing up.

What challenges have you faced in your career?

In war torn countries, we are faced with huge challenges such as helplessness in situations that are out of their control such as in Darfur, South Sudan, Yemen, Syria and other parts of the world. Also, many of our colleagues have lost their lives in war torn countries, some maimed, others kidnapped.

We are also a soft target for terrorists as has happened in Pakistan, Somalia, Nigeria, Algeria and other countries. Ours is a job not for the faint hearted.

Do the risks bother you?

It is a calling and is very involving because it is always a race against time to save lives in very complicated circumstances and includes tough negotiations with warring factions for safe humanitarian corridors.

My own life has been threatened while working in South Sudan in 1998 where our compound was attacked and I had to escape by wading through swamps for two days for safety.

Yemen also is very challenging as experienced in May this year when Saudi led Coalition bombed a site close to our office. The explosion sent me to the floor and almost brought down the entire building. I recovered from the shock later.

Is your career fulfilling?

My career is fulfilling and I have achieved a lot in the many countries of my assignment. This includes but not exclusive to the lives that I helped to save at the height of war and famine in South Sudan in 1997/98, the woman whose livelihood I helped to restore in the Philippines, the safe corridors I helped to negotiate for in Yemen and of course the hopes that I helped to restore wherever I have worked.

I have also mentored younger people to take up some of the humanitarian work boldly and quite often remained the voice of the voiceless wherever I have been.

Tell us about your family.

As I said earlier, I was brought up by my mother, Mama Mary Nyangara following my father’s death in 1979. I was very young then. I have three sisters (one passed on recently) and 7 brothers. I am married to Deborah Asaka and we are blessed with 3 children.

What do you do outside work?

I do a lot of reading outside my work and play badminton. I also love music and being with my friends and networks around the globe.

What advice would you offer to anyone interested in working for the UN family?

My advice is simple: Go there to serve the people and not to enrich yourseself. Go there with the noble goal of being the people’s servant. You must have everyone’s interest at heart.