UN humanitarian chief welcomes Special Envoy

(New York: 17 August 2007): The Secretary-General has appointed Abdulaziz bin Mohamed Arrukban of Saudi Arabia as his Special Humanitarian Envoy and tasked him to ensure strengthened linkages between the United Nations humanitarian efforts and the humanitarian aid provided by Governments and organizations in the Middle East and North Africa. This appointment, effective 10 July, comes as part of wider efforts to make humanitarian response more effective through building partnerships for disaster response.

"The humanitarian community has much to gain from the expertise of Mr. Arrukban, the new Special Humanitarian Envoy for the Secretary-General," said John Holmes, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator. Mr. Arrukban will ensure linkages between the United Nations' humanitarian action and the humanitarian aid provided by the Middle East and North Africa and will focus on building partnerships for disaster response. Mr. Arrukban's initial appointment is for one year. Earlier, he spent two years as Special International Ambassador for the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP).

"Mr. Arrukban has demonstrated expertise in helping to raise awareness of the United Nations' humanitarian priorities. I expect that his renewed commitment to work with the United Nations will be of great benefit to the humanitarian community and especially to the suffering people we serve," added Mr. Holmes.

For further information, please call: Stephanie Bunker, OCHA-New York, +1 917 367 5126, mobile +1 917 892 1679; Dizery Salim, OCHA-New York, +1 917 367 9262; Elizabeth Byrs, OCHA-Geneva, +41 22 917 2653, mobile +41 79 473 4570.