United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has announced the appointment of Muhannad Hadi of Jordan as the new Deputy Special Coordinator and Resident Coordinator for the Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO).

In an official statement released by his Office, Secretary-General Guterres expressed his confidence in Mr. Hadi, stating that he will also undertake the role of Humanitarian Coordinator. The appointment comes as Mr. Hadi succeeds James Eugene McGoldrick of Ireland, to whom the Secretary-General extended gratitude for his dedicated service.

Bringing over three decades of extensive international experience in humanitarian affairs and development work, Mr. Hadi's credentials are impressive. He notably served as the Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Crisis since 2020. Prior to this role, Mr. Hadi held several key positions within the World Food Programme (WFP), including Regional Director for the Middle East, North Africa, Central Asia, and Eastern Europe (2015-2020), Regional Emergency Coordinator for the Syria Crisis (2012-2015), and WFP Representative/Country Director in Syria (2009-2012).

Mr. Hadi's career journey began in 1990 with the International Committee of the Red Cross, laying a solid foundation for his subsequent humanitarian endeavors. He has served in various capacities for WFP across several crisis zones, including Iraq, Yemen, Sudan, Indonesia, Lebanon, Italy, Jordan, Egypt, and Syria.

Educationally, Mr. Hadi holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Economics from the University of Alabama, USA, and a Postgraduate Award in Management and Business Studies from the University of Warwick, United Kingdom.

This appointment underscores the United Nations' commitment to addressing the complex challenges of the Middle East region, particularly in advancing peace efforts and providing humanitarian assistance. Mr. Hadi's wealth of experience and expertise position him well to navigate the multifaceted issues at hand, offering hope for progress in the pursuit of peace and stability.