Martin Griffiths, a seasoned humanitarian with a wealth of experience in negotiating and advocating for individuals impacted by crises, will be stepping down from his role as U.N. undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator after three years of service. Griffiths, who is 72, contracted a severe case of COVID-19 in October and is still experiencing symptoms of long COVID.
As the world faced mounting humanitarian crises in regions such as Ukraine, Gaza, and Africa, Griffiths took on the role of U.N. undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator in July 2021. Prior to this, he had served as the U.N. special envoy for Yemen for three years, showcasing his expertise as a skilled negotiator with global experience.
Griffiths has held various positions throughout his career in humanitarian roles, including director of the U.N. Department of Humanitarian Affairs in Geneva in 1994 before heading the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, his current position. From 1999 to 2010, he was the founding director of the Center for Humanitarian Dialogue in Geneva, focusing on political dialogue between governments and insurgents across different countries in Asia, Africa, and Europe. Griffiths also held several other positions such as the first executive director of the European Institute of Peace from 2014 to 2018 and served as a special adviser to three U.N. special envoys for Syria during his time at UNICEF’s New York office from 2015 to 2016.
Throughout his career, Griffiths worked closely with international humanitarian organizations like UNICEF, Save the Children, and Action Aid.
In an announcement by the United Nations on Monday, it was stated that Griffiths will remain in his current position until the end of June to ensure a smooth transition.
U.N Secretary-General António Guterres commended Griffiths for his exceptional leadership and service to the United Nations and the humanitarian community.
“Martin’s unwavering commitment to addressing complex humanitarian challenges around the world has been instrumental in ensuring that millions have received vital assistance,” said Guterres.
U.N Deputy Spokesman Farhan Haq also praised Griffith’s work saying “Martin’s exceptional leadership has helped us navigate some of our most challenging crises.”
Griffith’s departure marks an end to an era where he played a crucial role in addressing global humanitarian challenges but paves way for new opportunities for those who will take up this critical mission.
