Irishman Gets UN Humanitarian Job

An Irish activist who led the humanitarian campaign for Gaza has been given a top role in the UN Office for Humanitarian Affairs by the United Nations Secretary General.

John Ging, 45, served as the head of the Gaza United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for the past five years looking after a staff of more than 10,000 tasked with delivering education, health care and social services to over one million refugees in the region. According to a Jerusalem Post story yesterday, Mr Ging survived Israeli military strikes against Gaza as well as two Islamic assassination attempts and is known as a sharp critic of both Israel and Hamas and a strong advocate for the Palestinian population he served.

An Irish national and former officer in the Irish Army, he became a often tapped source of information for foreign governments and media during the Israeli 2008-2009 offensive in Gaza.

Ging argued during his five year tenure that UNRWA’s work was a strong force in preventing the radicalization of Palestinian society, particularly through its work in education, focusing on human rights and non-violence.

Ging said his life had been threatened twice by extremist groups in Gaza, particularly because of his support of human rights and his stance against violence.

(DW/GK)