FOI-NZ BLOG

More than four years into Russia's full-scale invasion, Ukraine remains a theatre of significant humanitarian distress. Since February 2022, the war has likely killed well over half a million people, including soldiers on both sides and more than 16,000 verified Ukrainian civilians, with the true civilian toll believed to be higher.

Over recent months, the fragility of peace in the Middle East has been impossible to miss. A war with Iran that many feared could widen even further appeared to come to an abrupt diplomatic pause with the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding.

In March I returned to the Central North Island together with our Australian intern Jordan Dorr for our "Meet at the Mountain" initiative. Over four amazing weeks we welcomed more than 50 young Israelis.