UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has recommended a Swiss expert in humanitarian affairs to lead the UN agency responsible for aiding Palestinian refugees, a UN source said on Wednesday.
Guterres’ pick for the sensitive UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) post, Philippe Lazzarini, has served as the UN coordinator in Lebanon for the past five years.
He has deep experience in humanitarian relief work in conflict zones, including Somalia, Iraq, Angola and the Palestinian territories.
Lazzarini also held positions with the International Committee of the Red Cross in Africa, the Balkans and the Middle East.
If approved by the agency’s advisory board, Lazzarini would follow Pierre Krahenbuhl, another Swiss national, who resigned as UNRWA director in November 2019 amid accusations of mismanagement.
Founded in 1949, UNRWA runs schools and provides vital aid to millions of Palestinian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and the Palestinian territories.
The United States ended its annual $300 million contribution to UNRWA in 2018.
The United States and Israel contend the agency has no reason to exist in its current form, and oppose the Palestinians being allowed to transfer refugee status to their children.
-
Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA gets $118 mln in new funding
The Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA on Thursday received pledges of $118 million from donor countries to help it overcome a crisis triggered by US ... Middle East -
UN Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA to pare down operations in Gaza
Facing a major funding shortfall, the UN Palestinian refugee agency is planning to defer payment of salaries and suspend some of its operations in ... Middle East -
EU renews support to UNRWA and for two-state solution
The European Union (EU) has renewed its continuous financial support to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and ... World News -
UN needs $80 million for schools for Palestinian refugees
Last year, a $101 million shortfall in the budget of the agency, known as UNRWA, almost led to a delay in starting school Middle East