UNITED NATIONS: UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon created Monday a new post to tackle the humanitarian crisis in Pakistan, where an estimated 1.9 million people were displaced by conflict.
French UN ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert had been appointed the first special envoy in charge of humanitarian affairs for Pakistan, Ban’s spokeswoman Michele Montas said.
Ripert is to ‘assist the government of Pakistan and the international community in responding to the present humanitarian recovery and reconstruction needs related to the country’s displacement crisis,’ she said.
Ripert, a 56-year-old diplomat who has represented Paris at the United Nations since August 2007, is to hold the renewable position for an initial six months, diplomatic sources said.
He will step down as UN ambassador at the end of the month.
Ripert has been outspoken on humanitarian issues in the past, addressing the Security Council on such global hotspots as Myanmar, Darfur and Sri Lanka.
He has also called for action to protect children living through armed conflict.
Following the massive military summer offensive against the Taliban, the UN warned that unrest had displaced an estimated 1.9 million people, although officials last week said about two-thirds had been able to return home.
Ripert’s post is separate from that held by another Frenchman, Jean Arnaud, who is the special UN envoy to Pakistan concerned with political affairs.
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