Red Cross names former UNRWA chief as Director-General

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
22 Dec 2023 16:56

At 57 years old, Pierre Krahenbuhl has accumulated 25 years of experience in prominent roles at the ICRC and currently holds the position of secretary-general to the ICRC assembly.

Head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, Pierre Krahenbuhl poses for a portrait on Thursday, Sept. 27, 2018, in New York. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

The Red Cross announced on Friday the appointment of Pierre Krahenbuhl as its director-general, a statement by the agency read.

Krahenbuhl, a Swiss national with over 30 years of experience in the humanitarian sector, will assume the role in April, succeeding the current chief, Robert Mardini, who will complete his four-year term.

"The Assembly of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has appointed Pierre Krahenbuhl as the organisation's next director-general," it said in a statement.

At 57 years old, Krahenbuhl has accumulated 25 years of experience in prominent roles at the ICRC and currently holds the position of secretary-general to the ICRC assembly.

The statement acknowledged him as "a strategic and purpose-driven leader with deep organizational experience and dedication to the ICRC."

In 2014, he assumed the role of commissioner-general at the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

However, Krahenbuhl resigned from the position in 2019 amidst an internal investigation into alleged mismanagement and ethical abuses within the organization.

While the preliminary findings of the inquiry identified "credible and corroborated" allegations of serious ethical abuses, they did not reveal "fraud or misappropriation of operational funds" by Krahenbuhl, as stated by the UN at the time.

Following his resignation, Krahenbuhl commented on the "hyperpolarization" atmosphere surrounding the agency during that period.

Targeted agency

At that time, UNRWA was under continuous criticism from the administration of former US President Donald Trump, as well as "Israel," who accused the agency of siding with Palestine.

In 2018, the Trump administration decided to first suspend and later completely halt its financial contributions to UNRWA's budget, depriving the agency of its largest donor and triggering a financial crisis. The support from the US was fully reinstated by the administration of President Joe Biden.

As Krahenbuhl assumes leadership at the ICRC, the organization faces its own financial challenges, leading to budget cuts and the elimination of around 1,500 jobs. Additionally, the ICRC is under scrutiny concerning its response to the war on Gaza.

Founded 160 years ago to act as a neutral intermediary in conflicts and provide assistance to prisoners of war, the Swiss-based ICRC has faced accusations from both sides for not condemning the other party.

On November 14, ICRC spokesperson Fatima Sator said that "Israel" prevented the ICRC from visiting Palestinian prisoners since October 7.

ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric emphasized the crucial role of maintaining the organization's neutrality in all conflicts and crises during a recent press briefing, stating, "Without neutrality, we wouldn't be able to operate, without confidentiality... we wouldn't be successful."