UN appoints Swiss as top relief official for Somalia

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appointed Philippe Lazzarini of Switzerland as his deputy special representative as well as resident and humanitarian coordinator in Somalia.

Lazzarini has extensive experience in humanitarian assistance and international coordination in conflict and post-conflict areas, including in Somalia where he has been the resident and humanitarian coordinator and UN Development Program (UNDP) resident representative since March, reported Xinhua citing Ban in a statement Tuesday.

"Prior to this assignment, Lazzarini held a number of senior positions in the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, including as Deputy Director of the Coordination and Response Division (2011 to 2013), and in various field positions in Iraq, Angola, Somalia and the Occupied Palestinian Territory," the statement said.

Prior to joining the United Nations, Lazzarini served as a delegate for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in southern Sudan, Beirut, Amman and Gaza.