Philippe Lazzarini

At-a-Glance

Serves as Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) since 2020.
Began his international career in 1989 with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), serving as a delegate in southern Sudan, Lebanon, Jordan, and the Gaza Strip.
Held leadership positions within the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and as Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia and Lebanon.
Criticized the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip in 2023, describing it as a 'graveyard of a population trapped between war, siege and deprivation'.
Holds a Master's in Business Administration from the University of Lausanne and a Bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Neuchâtel.

Biography

Philippe Lazzarini is a Swiss humanitarian who has served as the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) since 2020. Born in Neuchâtel in 1964, he holds a Master's in Business Administration from the University of Lausanne and a Bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Neuchâtel.