Special IASC event; Humanitarian Challenges Today: Focusing on the Syria Situation
Geneva
Participants in New York: Conference Room S-2724BR is located on the 27th floor in the UN Secretariat building. A UN ID card is required to enter the UN Secretariat.
Humanitarian Challenges Today, Focusing on the Syria Situation Drawing upon their vast humanitarian experience, Egeland, Lim and El Hillo will give their perspectives on some of the major humanitarian challenges of today, focusing on the particular issues brought into relief by the Syria situation. The session will provide an opportunity for a candid discussion amongst three seasoned humanitarian officials, and with the wider IASC community; your questions and comments are welcome. The discussion will be moderated by Arafat Jamal, Chief of the IASC Secretariat.
Jan Egeland is the Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC). From 2003 to 2006 Egeland was the UN Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, during which time he initiated the humanitarian reform and led the international emergency response to the Asian Tsunami, Darfur crisis, Iraq and other major emergencies. Mr. Egeland has a long and distinguished career as an international policy maker and humanitarian leader, serving as State Secretary for the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Secretary General of the Norwegian Red Cross and Chair of Amnesty International in Norway. Egeland has also served in senior posts with the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs and Human Rights Watch.
Janet Lim was appointed Assistant High Commissioner for Operations in August 2009 following a demanding five-year assignment as Director of the Bureau for Asia and the Pacific. She brings immense operational experience to her position with particular expertise in managing complex emergency situations and the difficult task of balancing humanitarian action with security concerns. During her 32-year career Ms Lim has, amongst other positions, served as the head of UNHCR’s Emergency and Security Service, Coordinator in the Western Sahara, Representative in Sri Lanka during its separatist insurgency, and she served at the senior level on secondment to UNAIDS and UNAMA. She has also served with UNHCR in Malaysia, Thailand, and Syria.
Yacoub El Hillo is the current Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria. Mr. El Hillo has almost 25 years of experience in the United Nations. Since November 2010 he has been UNHCR Bureau Director for the Middle East and North Africa. Prior to that, from 2009 to 2010, he served as UNHCR Regional Representative to the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries and from 2006 to 2009 as UNHCR Representative to Tanzania. From 2005 to 2006 he was Deputy Reconstruction and Humanitarian Coordinator in the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), and from 2003 to 2005, UNHCR Representative for Operations in Iraq. Prior to this, he held several UNHCR positions, including Chef de Cabinet.