Martin Griffiths, the UN's chief emergency relief co-ordinator, has announced plans to step down by the end of June, as numerous humanitarian crises including the Israel-Gaza war continue.
In a post on X on Monday, Mr Griffiths said he had informed UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres of his intention to step down but did not provide a reason for his decision.
“To everyone at @UNOCHA, it's been the privilege of my life. I am deeply in your debt,” he wrote.
“To all partners and supporters, thank you for championing the cause of people in crises.”
The Welsh veteran diplomat renowned for his steadfast values and mediation skills has held the position of under-secretary general for humanitarian affairs at the UN since 2021.
In this role, Mr Griffiths has been at the forefront of complex negotiations, notably engaging with President Bashar Al Assad over gaining entry to the quake-ravaged regions of northern Syria, forging a vital accord between Ukraine and Russia to safeguard grain exports across the Black Sea and confronting the fallout of catastrophic floods in Libya.
His announcement comes amid significant humanitarian crises in Gaza, with the spectre of famine casting a long shadow.
In an exclusive interview with The National last month, Mr Griffiths said the Gaza crisis was the worst he had seen and “it's for one very specific reason” – months into the war, “Gazans are trapped … as has been the case for many years”.
“We now have in the south around Rafah an area traditionally for about 200,000 to 250,000 people,” he said.
“We have something like six times that number, bunched into that area, as the wall comes down towards them from Khan Younis, as it moves south.
“Where are they going to go? It's not as if the Palestinians want a second Nakba.”
Gaza war is worst I have seen, UN aid chief says – video
The UN aid chief has repeatedly called for Israel to allow humanitarian assistance into the Gaza Strip as it wages a military campaign in response to the October 7 attack by Hamas.
Last month, he warned Israel not to ignore calls against an assault in Rafah, where about 1.5 million Palestinians have taken shelter, warning that an Israeli operation “could lead to a slaughter”.
He has also raised the alarm on other humanitarian crises around the world, including in Sudan, where the threat of widespread hunger also looms.
“I imagine we will find that the suffering in Sudan is as great as maybe in some parts of Gaza and other parts of the world,” he told The National.
“The suffering in Sudan in the absence of international attention and international support for the people of Sudan is something which we should be deeply ashamed of.”
Mr Griffiths formerly held the position of the UN Secretary General's special envoy to Yemen and served as an adviser to each of the three special envoys for Syria, in addition to various other roles.
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The cost of Covid testing around the world
Egypt
Dh514 for citizens; Dh865 for tourists
Information can be found through VFS Global.
Jordan
Dh212
Centres include the Speciality Hospital, which now offers drive-through testing.
Cambodia
Dh478
Travel tests are managed by the Ministry of Health and National Institute of Public Health.
Zanzibar
AED 295
Zanzibar Public Health Emergency Operations Centre, located within the Lumumba Secondary School compound.
Abu Dhabi
Dh85
Abu Dhabi’s Seha has test centres throughout the UAE.
UK
From Dh400
Heathrow Airport now offers drive through and clinic-based testing, starting from Dh400 and up to Dh500 for the PCR test.
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Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
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“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
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Date Started: May 2015
Founders: Rami Shaar and Jad Halaoui
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Employees: 170
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Funders: Addventure, B&Y Partners, Clara Ventures, Cedar Mundi Partners, Henkel Ventures
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
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