NEW YORK, (PIC)
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Tuesday announced the appointment of Sigrid Kaag of the Netherlands as Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza.
The appointment was pursuant to the UN Security Council Resolution 2720 (2023) that was adopted last Friday with 13 states voting for it while the United States and Russia abstaining from voting after days of marathon talks.
In this role, she will facilitate, coordinate, monitor, and verify safe and unhindered humanitarian relief consignments to Palestinians across Gaza.
The resolution called for establishing a United Nations mechanism to accelerate humanitarian relief consignments to Gaza which have been insufficient to meet the needs of 2.3 million stranded people in Gaza.
Hamas and other resistance movements have criticized the resolution, demanding a total ceasefire and unconditional entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.
Kaag will be responsible for establishing that mechanism with the support of the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS). She is expected to begin her assignment on 8 January 2024.
For her part, Kaag said, on “X” platform, that she will resign from her government position.
Kaag has held a wide range of senior positions in political, humanitarian and development affairs, as well as in diplomacy and within the United Nations system. Most recently, she served as the first Deputy Prime Minister and first female Minister of Finance in the Dutch government and Minister for Foreign Affairs.
