35: The Human Cost of Escalating Conflict in the Middle East

Across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), escalating conflicts have forced millions of people from their homes — often not just temporarily, but for years or even generations. As wars drag on and humanitarian resources shrink, what happens when there are few clear paths home and millions are left navigating the lasting human costs of displacement? Ambassador David M. Satterfield speaks with Baker Institute experts Kelsey Norman and Ana Martín Gil about the realities of protracted displacement across the region. Norman and Martín Gil are series editors of a new Baker Institute collection on protracted displacement in the MENA, which is particularly acute in the region and driven by complex political, security, and climate dynamics. This conversation was recorded on May 14, 2026. ⚖️ Visit https://bakerinstitute.org for more nonpartisan, data-driven policy research and analysis. 📺 Watch & listen to more podcast episodes and events: @BakerInstitute. 🔔 Follow @BakerInstitute and sign up for our newsletters: https://www.bakerinstitute.org/newsle... https://x.com/BakerInstitute;   / bakerinstitute;     / bakerinstitute;     / bakerinstitute  .