Inside Geneva: Summer Profiles – Rachael Cummings in Gaza

Hosted by Imogen Foulkes, SWI swissinfo.ch

Introduction

In the August 5, 2025 episode of Inside Geneva, journalist Imogen Foulkes delves into the harrowing realities of Gaza through an in-depth conversation with Rachael Cummings, the Gaza Humanitarian Director for Save the Children. This episode, part of the podcast's Summer Profiles series, provides a poignant exploration of global humanitarian efforts amidst one of the world's most enduring and challenging conflict zones.

Rachel Cummings’ Journey to Humanitarian Work

Rachael Cummings shares her inspiring journey from nursing to becoming a dedicated humanitarian worker. Growing up with a mother who was a nurse, Cummings developed a passion for healthcare early on. “[...] I thought, that could be something quite interesting,” she recalls (02:39). Her career took a pivotal turn when she joined VSO in Cambodia as a nurse tutor, which exposed her to the broader world of non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

Cummings’ first major deployment was during the catastrophic 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami in Banda Aceh, where she worked with Merlin to rebuild the devastated health system. Reflecting on this experience, she acknowledges her initial naivety about the humanitarian system but emphasizes the invaluable skills she gained in coordination and communication (05:20).

Standout Humanitarian Efforts

Throughout her career, Cummings has been involved in numerous crisis responses. She highlights Save the Children's pivotal role during the 2014-2015 Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone, where they established an 80-bed Ebola treatment center in collaboration with the NHS (06:56). Additionally, she participated in the response to the 2017 Rohingya crisis in Cox's Bazaar, Bangladesh, where Save the Children continues to support over a million displaced individuals by maintaining essential services like health centers and educational programs (09:02).

Imogen Foulkes probes into the relevance of long-term humanitarian projects in an era of increasing global instability and skepticism towards foreign aid. Cummings passionately defends the importance of sustained humanitarian efforts, emphasizing the enduring impact on children's lives: “[...] children who have the right to a childhood. And we have the opportunity as a global community ... to make positive impact for change for these children” (10:08).

Current Work in Gaza

Cummings discusses her current assignment in Gaza, describing it as the most challenging yet crucial role she has undertaken. Arriving in February 2024, she has been at the forefront of Save the Children's extensive humanitarian response. “In Gaza we're running one of the largest humanitarian responses across the whole of Save the Children,” she states (12:36). Her team operates two primary healthcare centers, ten nutrition centers, educational services across 16 communities, child protection initiatives, water trucking to over 20 communities daily, and provides cash and e-vouchers to hundreds of thousands of families.

Despite severe restrictions and a blockade that has drastically limited the flow of essential supplies, Cummings underscores the organization's commitment to maintaining high standards of quality and accountability: “[...] anything is possible. In Gaza it's just bloody difficult” (14:14).

Challenges and Ethical Considerations

The episode delves into the dire circumstances in Gaza, where a prolonged blockade has led to extreme scarcity of food and medical supplies. Cummings highlights the desperation driving some individuals to hijack humanitarian trucks, exacerbating the crisis: “[...] people are absolutely desperate, driving them to jump on the trucks and pull off the humanitarian supplies. And ... I know I would do that myself” (16:32).

Imogen Foulkes brings up the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which claims to provide aid with reportedly greater freedom of passage. Cummings vehemently criticizes GHF, asserting that their distributions are chaotic and unsafe: “We said very clearly there's nothing humanitarian about the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation” (17:29). She describes the GHF’s distributions as "the survival of the fittest," highlighting the inherent risks and inequalities involved.

Personal Reflections and Mental Health Impacts

Cummings opens up about the emotional toll of her work, particularly concerning the mental health of children in Gaza. “Nearly all of Gaza's 1.1 million children need mental health and psychosocial support,” she shares, emphasizing the profound and lasting trauma inflicted by the ongoing conflict (24:17). As a mother herself, Cummings expresses deep concern for the psychological resilience of the children she serves, grappling with the fear for her own son's safety and well-being amidst the turmoil (24:32).

Reflections on Global Community and Future Judgement

Towards the episode's conclusion, Cummings offers a sobering assessment of the international community's response to the Gaza conflict. She anticipates that history will judge the global community harshly for its inaction and failure to hold perpetrators accountable: “History will judge us as a global community. There will be shame on us as a global community” (26:52). Despite the complexities and challenges, Cummings reaffirms her and Save the Children's unwavering commitment to delivering humanitarian aid and support to Gaza’s vulnerable populations.

Conclusion

In this compelling episode of Inside Geneva, Rachael Cummings provides a frontline perspective on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, illustrating both the immense challenges and the critical work being undertaken to support children and families amid conflict. Through her experiences and insights, listeners gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of humanitarian aid and the enduring need for compassionate global intervention.

Notable Quotes

• Rachael Cummings (02:39): “I thought, that could be something quite interesting.”
• Rachael Cummings (05:20): “It's not your role to be a hands on nurse. Your added value is in coordination and communication.”
• Rachael Cummings (10:08): “Children have the right to a childhood. We have the opportunity to make a positive impact for change for these children.”
• Rachael Cummings (14:14): “In Gaza it's just bloody difficult. So this is where we, our starting point is, yes, we can. And then we just have to navigate how we can.”
• Rachael Cummings (16:32): “I know I would do that myself if I was in this situation.”
• Rachael Cummings (17:29): “There's nothing humanitarian about the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.”
• Rachael Cummings (24:32): “It's very difficult for people, and they've shared this with me, to plan, to have any plans for the future.”
• Rachael Cummings (26:52): “History will judge us as a global community. There will be shame on us as a global community.”

About Inside Geneva

Inside Geneva is a podcast dedicated to exploring global politics, humanitarian issues, and international aid. Hosted by journalist Imogen Foulkes and produced by SWI swissinfo.ch, the series offers insightful profiles and in-depth discussions with key figures shaping international humanitarian efforts.

Listen to More Episodes

Explore other compelling profiles from last summer, including insights from Chris Lockyer, Secretary General of Medecins Sans Frontieres, and Esther Dingemans of the Global Survivors Fund, available on all major podcast platforms.

This episode was produced by SWI swissinfo.ch, the multilingual international public service media company of Switzerland.