Mandate of Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA?Commissioner–General renewed to March 2026
EAST?JERUSALEM
The?Commissioner-General?of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees?in the Near East?(Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA), Philippe Lazzarini,?welcomed the renewal of his mandate by the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ Secretary-General, saying he was ¡°honoured¡± by the decision.
This is Lazzarini¡¯s second?three-year?term?at?Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA,?one of the largest Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ agencies in the world.?With?28,000 staff members, Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA?delivers?critical?services?including?health, education, social protection, camp infrastructure and?sanitation,?among?others,?to millions of Palestine refugees.?The Agency?operates?in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, Gaza, Syria,?Lebanon?and Jordan.
¡°I am?honoured?by the?decision?of Secretary-General Guterres?and his?confidence in me?at a time of immense challenges in the region,¡±?Lazzarini said.?¡°I also am grateful for the support?expressed by?the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ?Member States,?the host countries?in the region, and?our donors and partners.¡±
As he starts his second term, Lazzarini?pledged to keep working tirelessly?to?provide?continued access of Palestine refugees to Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA services per the Agency¡¯s?mandate and?reinforce?the?trust of?the?international community in Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA. He is committed to improving and modernizing the quality of the services, including through?digitalization.??
¡°I look forward to continuing to work with?my?dedicated?colleagues,?most of whom are Palestine refugees,?so we can?face?and overcome?challenges together,¡±?said the Commissioner-General.?¡°At the?centre?of all our efforts are the rights of Palestine refugees, until there is a just and lasting solution to their plight.¡±
NOTE TO EDITORS
- Philippe Lazzarini, a Swiss national, is the 11th??.?
- He was previously based in Beirut, Lebanon, as Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ Deputy Special Coordinator and Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator.?
- He was??as Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA Commissioner-General?on 18 March 2020, during strict COVID-19 restrictions.
Document Sources: Secretary-General, United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA)
Subject: Assistance, Refugees and displaced persons
Publication Date: 28/03/2023
URL source: