We don't have qualified people to speak. They don't have experts and commentators. There's no political discourse in this city, and it showed.

It's become an embarrassment of a sort. [Having elections] was not something the UAE wanted to be behind in. They see themselves as leaders. They also found out you can't have a global city and a closed one.

This is an Arab city living in a unique moment in history.

Dubai has been trying to prove to the rest of the Arab world that there is life after oil, and that in fact it's a better life. The good news is there is room for a second and a third Dubai, just like there was room for a second Singapore in Asia.

WFP intends to continue helping the refugees but it can only do so with the help of the international community. That help is needed more than ever.

Winter is not yet over and hundreds of thousands of people still urgently need to be reached.