New UN relief director takes office
Mr. Fletcher, former UK Ambassador and policy advisor to three British Prime Ministers, has appoint UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator of Secretary General António Guterres last month.
In his new role, he will also head the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
He succeeds Martin Griffiths, also from England, who step down at the end of June for health reasons. In the interim, Joyce Msuya, Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, serves as Deputy Secretary-General.
‘No illusions’
As the new top humanitarian official, Mr. Fletcher admitted that he “under no illusion how difficult this task will be.”
“The impact of conflict, climate change, inequality and injustice on civilians is growing at a staggering rate,” he said. speak.
“I will defend our humanitarian movement and humanitarian values, and fight to make us more effective, strategic, inclusive and innovative. We must win again the debate on international solidarity,” he added.
Prior to his appointment, Mr Fletcher was Principal of Hertford College, Oxford and Vice-Chairman of the Oxford University College Conference.
He has extensive experience in leading and transforming organizations, along with a strong background in diplomacy, having previously served as Director of Global Strategy at the Global Business Alliance for Education, according to a United Nations report. Biographical notes.
Mr Fletcher has also worked closely with the United Nations during the UK’s diplomatic career in Africa, the Middle East and Europe, including as Head of the Middle East Peace Process at the Foreign Office and the Commonwealth of Nations (FCO).
