UNRWA new Commission General Philippe Lazzarini. (Photo credit UNRWA) 

JERUSALEM, Thursday, 19 March 2020 (WAFA) - The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) announced in a press release today that, following official communication by the office of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and consultations with the Agency’s Advisory Commission, Philippe Lazzarini has been appointed as its new Commissioner-General (CG).

Lazzarini will assume the position that Christian Saunders has been acting in since November 2019, when the former UNRWA Commissioner-General resigned, it said.

Lazzarini brings to the position more than 30 years of experience in humanitarian assistance and international coordination in conflict and post-conflict areas, including in Gaza and East Jerusalem, in the United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the private sector.

He joined the United Nations in 2003 and has served the organization in various capacities. The last post he held prior to his appointment as UNRWA CG was the position of Deputy Special Coordinator, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon in the Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon (UNSCOL).

M.K.