UNRWA Commissioner Resigns Amid Internal Investigation

Geneva, MINA – The Commissioner General of the United Nation Work and Relief Agency for Palestinian refugee (UNWRA), Pierre Krahenbuhl resigned amid an internal investigation into alleged mismanagement and ethical violations at the organization, the United Nations (UN) said on Wednesday, November 6.

“Some time ago, UNRWA Commissioner General Pierre Krahenbuhl told the (UN) Secretary General that he would immediately resign, effectively,” UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told a press conference, Nahar Net reported.

The UN had previously announced that Krahenbuhl had been placed on administrative leave, to be replaced temporarily by his deputy Christian Saunders.

An internal ethics report accuses mismanagement and abuse of authority at the highest level of the UN agency, which also faces a financial crisis after the UN suspended and then cut all funds for UNRWA in 2018.

UN investigators have investigated the allegations in a classified report.

The report described “credible and corroborated” allegations of serious ethical violations, including those involving Krahenbuhl, a Swiss citizen.

The agency confirmed on Wednesday that its internal inquiry so far “revealed management issues relating specifically to the commissioner general.” (T/Sj/R04)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)