UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths is stepping down from his role for health reasons after nearly three years of trying to tackle mounting crises in Ukraine, Gaza and Africa, the United Nations announced.
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres praised Mr Griffiths “for his tremendous leadership and service to the United Nations and the humanitarian community in advocating for people affected by crises and mobilising resources to address their needs”, UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said.
Mr Griffiths, 72, told The Associated Press earlier this month that he suffered a severe case of Covid-19 in October and is still has long Covid.
After 3 years on the job, I have informed @antonioguterres of my intention to step down in June.
To everyone at @UNOCHA, it's been the privilege of my life. I am deeply in your debt.
To all partners and supporters, thank you for championing the cause of people in crises.
— Martin Griffiths (@UNReliefChief) March 25, 2024
Mr Griffiths took on the job of UN undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator in July 2021 as crises were escalating around the globe and funds for humanitarian aid were shrinking.
A veteran British diplomat and seasoned negotiator with wide global experience, he served as the UN special envoy for Yemen for three years before taking on the UN’s top humanitarian post.
Mr Haq said Mr Griffiths will remain in his post until the end of June to allow for a smooth transition.
In 1994, Mr Griffiths served in Geneva as director of the UN Department of Humanitarian Affairs, which preceded the establishment of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, that he now heads.
From 1999 to 2010, he was the founding director of the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue in Geneva, where according to the UN he specialised in developing political dialogue between governments and insurgents in a range of countries across Asia, Africa and Europe.
Mr Griffiths served as the first executive director of the European Institute of Peace from 2014-2018 and he served as special adviser to three UN special envoys for Syria and as deputy head of the UN mission in Syria from 2012-2014, during the early years of the ongoing conflict there.
Earlier in his career, he was a British diplomat and worked for various international humanitarian organisations, including Unicef, Save the Children and Action Aid.