ISTANBUL

The UN on Tuesday designated Christian Saunders as Officer-in-Charge of the UN Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA), set to assume the role April 1 ahead of Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini's term ending June 30.

Saunders, currently serving as Special Coordinator on Improving the UN Response to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, will transition to acting commissioner-general July 1, the UN said in a statement.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed gratitude to Lazzarini for his "tireless commitment" to UNRWA and the welfare of Palestine refugees, and reaffirmed support for agency staff working under "extremely difficult conditions" in health, education and humanitarian assistance. He also urged member states and partners to remain committed to UNRWA and the services it provides in "a volatile region."

Established in 1949 by a UN General Assembly resolution, UNRWA is mandated to provide assistance and protection to Palestinian refugees across five areas of operation: Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

The agency has faced an existential funding crisis after the US, one of its largest donors, suspended contributions under the Trump administration amid a ban by Israel on its operations in January 2025. In early 2026, Israeli forces raided the agency's headquarters in the occupied East Jerusalem.