Christina Bitar

“It was during my MSc of Public Health in Developing Countries as a Saïd scholar that I have enriched my humanitarian experience with invaluable research experiences and international acquaintances of likeminded professionals. This exceptional year has shaped the professional I am today. It was the toughest, yet the most fruitful year of my life and one that I hold dear to my heart.”

Christina Bitar Daher, proud wife and mother of two boys, is a mental health professional from Lebanon. She holds two masters degrees. Her first was in Clinical Psychology from the University of Saint Joseph Lebanon. Her second is an MSc in Public Health in Developing Countries from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine which she completed as a Saïd Foundation scholar in 2006/07. 

After her graduation Christina worked in several complex emergencies with the Red Cross Movement. She was worked in several countries including Myanmar, Iran, Morocco, Algeria, Syria, Tunisia, Baghdad, Erbil, Egypt, Yemen, Cameroon, Kosovo and Serbia. Her roles have been to promote peace and dignity of every human being regardless of colour, religion or nationality, and assisting and protecting populations affected by natural disasters, conflicts and other situations of violence. 

Since 1996 Christina has worked for the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement. She now holds the position of mental health and psychosocial support delegate at the International Committee of the Red Cross and is currently based in Jordan.

Christina’s role is focused on supporting the families of missing people as a result of the conflict in Syria. She works on assessing the specific needs of the missing and their families and designing and implementing accompaniment programs for them.

Christina is a trainer in mental health and psychosocial support in complex emergencies and has contributed to a multitude of international training manuals used today in more than 80 countries.