The United Nations flag seen in New York. (Credit: AFP)
BEIRUT — United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced the appointment of Imran Riza of Pakistan as his Deputy Special Coordinator for Lebanon, in the Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon (UNSCOL), and Resident Coordinator for Lebanon. Riza will also serve as Humanitarian Coordinator, announced the office of the spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General on Thursday.
Here's what we know:
• Riza succeeds Najat Rochdi of Morocco, who was newly appointed as Deputy Special Envoy for Syria.
• "Mr. Riza brings over 35 years of international experience across the United Nations System, mainly in field settings," reads the press release. "For the past three years, he was in Syria as United Nations resident coordinator and humanitarian coordinator. Prior to this, he served in Lebanon as deputy head of mission and director of the Division of Political Affairs, Civil Affairs and Strategic Communications of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). He previously served as the regional representative to the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries for the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the UNHCR representative for Jordan. With UNHCR, he has also served in Geneva, Sudan, Hong Kong and Vietnam."
• Riza has also held positions with the World Food Programme (WFP) in Rome and as senior adviser to the personal representative of the secretary-general for Lebanon, as well as with UNSCOL.