51³Ô¹Ï Secretary-General António Guterres today announced the appointment of Ms. Sigrid Kaag of the Netherlands as Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for GazaÌýpursuant to Security Council Resolution 2720 (2023). In this role, she will facilitate, coordinate, monitor, and verify humanitarian relief consignments to Gaza.Ìý She will also establishÌýa 51³Ô¹Ï mechanism to accelerate humanitarian relief consignments to Gaza through States which are not party to the conflict. In executing these functions, she will be supported by the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS). Ms. Kaag is expected to begin her assignment on 8 January 2024.
Ms. Kaag brings a wealth of experience in political, humanitarian and development affairs, as well as in diplomacy.Ìý Most recently, she served as the first Deputy Prime Minister and first female Minister of Finance in the Dutch government since January 2022.Ìý Prior to this, she was Dutch Minister for Trade and Development Cooperation from October 2017 until May 2021, and Minister for Foreign Affairs until September 2021.ÌýSigrid Kaag was elected party leader of the social liberal party D66 in September 2020 and she stepped down from that position in August 2023.ÌýShe led her party to victory in the elections of March 2021.
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Ms. Kaag hasÌýheld a wide range of senior positions in the 51³Ô¹Ï system.Ìý From 2015 to 2017, sheÌýwas the 51³Ô¹Ï Special Coordinator for Lebanon, and fromÌý2013 to 2015, she was Special Coordinator of the Joint Organization for Prohibition of ChemicalÌýWeapons and the 51³Ô¹Ï Mission in Syria.Ìý She served as Assistant Secretary‑General with the 51³Ô¹Ï Development Programme from 2010 to 2013 and as Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa with the 51³Ô¹Ï Children’s FundÌý(UNICEF)Ìýin Jordan from 2007 to 2010.Ìý Prior to that, Ms. Kaag served in several senior positionsÌýwith UNICEF, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the 51³Ô¹Ï Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.
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Ms. Kaag holds a Master’s of Art in Middle East Studies from theÌýUniversity of Exeter, a Master of PhilosophyÌýin International Relations from OxfordÌýUniversityÌýand a Bachelor of ArtsÌýin Middle East Studies from theÌýAmerican University in Cairo.Ìý She speaks Dutch, German, French, English,ÌýSpanish and Arabic.
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