UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, today announced that Bahraini content creator and filmmaker Omar Farooq has become its latest Goodwill Ambassador in the Middle East and North Africa region.
The appointment recognises his longstanding commitment to people forced to flee, bringing their experiences to wider audiences, raising awareness of displacement and mobilising public support for displaced people.
Since 2017, Farooq has been working with UNHCR as a High-Profile Supporter. His first engagement was a visit to Bangladesh to raise awareness of the Rohingya refugee crisis. Since then, he has supported flagship Ramadan and winter appeals helping draw attention to emergencies, particularly the Sudan situation, when he visited the Chad-Sudan border and Renk, South Sudan.
His work and advocacy across social media platforms, including through long-format documentaries and digital content, have helped raise awareness of the challenges facing refugees and displaced communities across the Middle East, Asia, and Africa and mobilised support for UNHCR’s Refugee Zakat Fund.
Farooq said: “People’s stories have always taken me to places I could never have reached on my own, into their dreams, their struggles, and all they carry in their hearts. Today, this role gives me a responsibility not only to listen, but also to amplify voices that may not yet have found their way to the world, and to serve as a bridge through which their stories can be shared, heard, and remembered.”
Khaled Khalifa, Senior Advisor and UNHCR Representative to the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, said: “We are pleased to welcome Omar Farooq as a Goodwill Ambassador who has been a dedicated supporter of UNHCR for nearly a decade, and look forward to continuing our collaboration to raise awareness of displacement and mobilize support for those forced to flee.” He added: “We value partnership with content creators who use their platforms to foster understanding, inspire solidarity, and draw attention to the plights of forcibly displaced communities.”
As a Goodwill Ambassador, Farooq will continue his support for refugees globally, to bring greater visibility to underfunded and protracted crises at a time of significant funding cuts and growing humanitarian needs. He will draw attention to the needs and experiences of refugees, particularly those affected by crises receiving limited attention. He is also developing an education-focused initiative with UNHCR, “Beyond Borders”, to give young refugees the skills and tools to share their own stories.
Alongside practical skills and mentorship, the initiative will connect participants with relevant professionals and opportunities through Farooq’s network, support broader visibility for their work through his platforms and, where possible, facilitate access to resources. Farooq aims to help create opportunities and skills development for refugees in line with UNHCR’s ‘50 by 35’ vision, which seeks to enable refugees in long-term displacement in low- and middle- income countries to move beyond aid dependency through greater self-reliance and solutions by 2035.
