Consequently,
Philippe lazzarini will leave head:
Switzerland Philippe Lazzarini will leave the head of UNRWA at the end of his mandate next March. Moreover, he announced Thursday evening. Nevertheless, He will have experienced the most tormented period of the UN agency. Similarly, bruised by the war in Gaza and targeted by political attacks.
“My mandate ends at the end of March. However, I had two terms. Furthermore, I think that’s enough. Consequently, And I also think that there can be a life beyond the United Nations.” In a few words. Therefore, at the end of a conference, Philippe Lazzarini said he will not seek a new mandate at the head of UNRWA.
Until then. In addition, the 61 -year -old Neuchâtel will continue to “do what it takes” to meet the expectations of the thousands of UNRWA employees who are continuing their commitment on the ground. Nearly 350 of them have been philippe lazzarini will leave head killed since the attack on October 7. 2023 perpetrated by Hamas in Israel and Israeli reprisals in the Gaza Strip.
In this position since 2020 – Philippe lazzarini will leave head
The Swiss runs the UN agency dedicated to Palestinian refugees since 2020. He attended the disaster on the ground on the front line. Since October 2023, he has pleaded the cause of the Palestinian population, part of which, especially in Gaza, depends on UNRWA. This Thursday. again, at the invitation of the Swiss press club, he denounced the fate of the already severely malnourished children and, in his words, condemned to death if the Israeli reconquest plans come true.
“We have a population that is extremely weakened. We thought we had already described everything about Gaza. We had described hell on earth, in Gaza. But indeed. if this scenario should be set up, even if we are talking about the evacuation of the people of Gaza to the philippe lazzarini will leave head south, many will not even have the strength to be able to move,” he deplores.
>> Read also: Sonam Dreyer-Cornut, back in Gaza: “A few months ago, I told myself that it could not be worse … in fact, if”
The second term of the Commissioner General of UNRWA will have been a test. In addition to the many employees killed in Gaza. some accused of being members of Hamas, UNRWA neutrality has been questioned, and about fifteen countries have cut or reduced their funding, including Switzerland. Philippe Lazzarini had to face media attacks and the resignation of Israel, which limited his visas.
His career in humanitarian aid. the resolution of conflicts led him from the ICRC to the various organizations of the United Nations, but his mission at the head of UNRWA was undoubtedly the most exposed.
“An extremely heavy position”
A fervent defender in the Parliament of Swiss Aid at UNRWA. philippe lazzarini will leave head the Geneva Socialist State Councilor Carlo Sommaruga admitted on Friday at the microphone of the morning to be surprised by this departure, even if it was necessary to be expected.
“This is something that was expected insofar as the post of Commissioner General at UNRWA is an extremely heavy position. because it is the subject of personal attacks, institutional attacks on the part of Israel and also of the United States. And the stake, of course, uses people,” he pointed out.
“I just hope. now, that the United Nations will have the capacity to name someone who was of the caliber of Mr. Lazzarini. even his predecessor, who also had to go under the pressures of Israel and the United States,” concluded Carlo Sommaruga.
>> Carlo Sommaruga’s reaction in the morning:
Alexandre Habay/fgn
Further reading: Neuchâtel police: 14,000 people invited to give their opinion – Entry into force of American surcharge on Swiss goods – Customs duties: Karin Keller-Sutter and Guy Parmelin back in Switzerland – Security: fear of men haunts the daily life of the Swiss – Schwyz sees his first pack of wolves disembark.