Martin Griffiths, a veteran British diplomat and experienced negotiator, has announced that he will be stepping down as the United Nations (U.N.) humanitarian chief for health reasons after nearly three years of addressing humanitarian crises in Ukraine, Gaza, and Africa. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres praised Griffiths for his leadership and service in advocating for people affected by crises and mobilizing resources to address their needs.
Griffiths contracted a severe case of COVID-19 in October and is still dealing with long COVID. He took on the role of U.N. undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator in July 2021, amidst escalating global crises and dwindling funds for humanitarian aid. From 1994 to 2010, Griffiths held various roles in Geneva, including director of the U.N. Department of Humanitarian Affairs and founding director of the Center for Humanitarian Dialogue. He focused on developing political dialogues between governments and insurgents across Asia, Africa, and Europe.
Prior to his role at the U.N., Griffiths served as the U.N.’s special envoy for Yemen for three years before assuming his current position as the world’s top humanitarian official. Earlier in his career, he worked as a British diplomat and contributed to various international humanitarian organizations such as UNICEF, Save the Children, and Action Aid. Throughout his career, he has been dedicated to advocating for people affected by crises and mobilizing resources to address their needs.
Griffiths will continue in his role until the end of June to facilitate a smooth transition into his successor’s tenure.
In conclusion, Martin Griffiths has been an integral part of advocating for people affected by crises throughout his career as a British diplomat and experienced negotiator at various international humanitarian organizations such as UNICEF, Save the Children
