Dutch diplomat Sigrid Kaag takes up post as UN Gaza humanitarian, reconstruction coordinator

UNITED NATIONS - Dutch diplomat and politician Sigrid Kaag began her assignment on Monday as the United Nations' senior humanitarian and reconstruction coordinator for Gaza, a UN spokeswoman said.

"She will facilitate, coordinate, monitor, and verify humanitarian relief consignments to Gaza," said Florencia Soto Nino, an associate spokeswoman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. "Ms Kaag has also received the mandate to establish a UN mechanism to accelerate humanitarian relief consignments to Gaza through states which are not party to the conflict."

After meeting with the secretary-general, Soto Nino said Kaag goes to Washington later in the week for meetings before traveling to the region.

The spokeswoman said Kaag will start her post in Amman in Jordan with a view to moving to Egypt and later to Gaza.

A veteran Dutch politician and diplomat specializing in the Middle East, she will be supported by the UN Office for Project Services.

In announcing Kaag's appointment last month, the United Nations said Kaag brings a wealth of experience in political, humanitarian and development affairs and diplomacy. Most recently, she served as the Dutch government's first deputy prime minister and first female minister of finance.

From 2015 to 2017, she was the UN special coordinator for Lebanon, and from 2013 to 2015, she was the special coordinator of the Joint Organization for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the UN mission in Syria. Kaag served as assistant secretary-general with the UN Development Programme from 2010 to 2013.

Among her degrees, Kaag holds a Master of Arts in Middle East studies and a Master of Philosophy in international relations. She speaks Dutch, German, French, English, Spanish and Arabic.