Bahraini content creator and filmmaker Omar Farooq has been appointed a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in the Middle East and North Africa, recognising his longstanding work raising awareness of displacement and supporting people forced to flee their homes.
Farooq has worked with UNHCR as a High-Profile Supporter since 2017. His first engagement involved visiting Bangladesh to highlight the Rohingya refugee crisis. Since then, he has supported the agency’s Ramadan and winter appeals, helping draw attention to humanitarian emergencies, particularly the crisis in Sudan.
His work has included visits to the Chad-Sudan border and Renk in South Sudan. Through documentaries, social media campaigns and digital storytelling, he has brought the experiences of refugees and displaced communities across the Middle East, Asia and Africa to wider audiences. His advocacy has also helped mobilise support for UNHCR’s Refugee Zakat Fund.
Using Storytelling to Amplify Refugee Voices
Farooq said the appointment carries a responsibility to ensure that the experiences of displaced people reach wider audiences.
He explained that meeting people and hearing their stories had taken him into lives and experiences he might otherwise never have encountered. In his new role, he aims to listen, amplify voices that have yet to be heard and help ensure their stories are shared and remembered.
Khaled Khalifa, Senior Advisor and UNHCR Representative to the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, welcomed the appointment, describing Farooq as a dedicated supporter of the agency for nearly a decade.
Khalifa said UNHCR looked forward to continuing its collaboration with Farooq to raise awareness of displacement and mobilise support for people forced to flee. He also highlighted the role of content creators in fostering understanding, encouraging solidarity and drawing attention to the challenges facing displaced communities.
New Initiative to Support Young Refugees
As a Goodwill Ambassador, Farooq will continue advocating for refugees worldwide, with a particular focus on underfunded and protracted crises receiving limited public attention. His appointment comes amid significant funding cuts and growing humanitarian needs.
He is also developing an education-focused initiative with UNHCR called Beyond Borders, designed to equip young refugees with the skills and tools to tell their own stories.
The initiative will provide practical training and mentorship, connect participants with relevant professionals and opportunities through Farooq’s network, and help increase the visibility of their work through his digital platforms. Where possible, it will also facilitate access to resources.
The programme aims to create opportunities for refugee-led storytelling and skills development, supporting UNHCR’s wider efforts to promote self-reliance among displaced communities.
Supporting Long-Term Solutions for Refugees
Farooq’s work will contribute to UNHCR’s 50 by 35 vision, which seeks to help refugees experiencing long-term displacement in low- and middle-income countries move beyond aid dependency through greater self-reliance and sustainable solutions by 2035.
Through his new role and the Beyond Borders initiative, Farooq aims to help displaced people share their experiences in their own words while gaining access to skills, professional networks and opportunities that can support their future.
The appointment builds on nearly a decade of collaboration between Farooq and UNHCR, extending his advocacy from raising awareness of humanitarian crises to helping young refugees develop the tools to tell their own stories.
