THE IRISHMAN who heads UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) operations in Gaza is leaving the position to take up a major new humanitarian role at UN headquarters in New York.
John Ging, a former officer in the Irish Defence Forces, has been appointed director of operations at the UN Office for Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
In his new role, Mr Ging will oversee the mobilisation of humanitarian actors in response to disasters and emergencies across the world.
Mr Ging has been an outspoken critic of Israeli government policy, describing the blockade of Gaza as a “medieval siege”. Last year his security was stepped up following assassination attempts and death threats by militants in the territory.
Mr Ging, who was appointed UNRWA director in Gaza in February 2006, said the move to the new humanitarian role was because of the UN’s policy of rotating senior personnel after five years.
Speaking to The Irish Times last night, he admitted to having “mixed emotions” about leaving, but added he was deeply honoured by his new role.
Recalling his time in the territory, during which he experienced the Israeli military offensive in early 2009, Mr Ging said it was the Gazans themselves who would remain in his memory.
“The resilience of the people . . . their humanity, their decency, their good nature and humour in such desperate circumstances – I never ceased to be humbled here on a daily basis by how generous the people were in spirit and nature despite such awful circumstances, and how much they are looking to contribute in a positive way, particularly for the development of their children.”
He was not “disconnecting” entirely from Gaza, given the OCHA has an office there, and he paid tribute to his colleagues.
“This is a very, very strong team which we have built up over the last couple of years, and it has been my privilege to lead and manage that team.”
UNRWA commissioner-general Filippo Grandi paid tribute to the work of Mr Ging and his colleague Barbara Shenstone, who is also leaving her post as a director in the West Bank.
“[They] have made exceptional contributions to UNRWA’s work under the most difficult circumstances: their commitment to ensuring the quality of UNRWA services has been extraordinary; their advocacy in support of rights has been outstanding – be it amidst heavy bombardment in Gaza during armed conflict, or in responding to the abysmal rights abuses in the occupied West Bank,” he said.
“I salute the courage, strength and determination of their innovative leadership.”
Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin praised Mr Ging as “an outstanding example of a true humanitarian” and paid tribute to his “exemplary courage and resilience” in directing UNRWA operations in the face of a “completely unjustified and counter-productive blockade”.