Pierre Karnabul Elected as Director General of the International Red Cross
In a surprising decision, the Plenary of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has chosen Pierre Karnabul as the new Director General of the organization. Karnabul, who previously served as the Director General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), resigned from his position due to suspicions of corruption.
Karnabul brings a wealth of experience to his new role, having held a number of positions within the International Red Cross, including secretary general of the organization’s plenum, president’s envoy to China, and head of the delegation to East Asia.
However, Karnabul’s tenure at UNRWA was marred by controversy. In 2019, an internal investigation by the United Nations began into inappropriate behavior and mismanagement by senior officials of the agency, including Karnabul. The investigation revealed an inappropriate relationship he had with an employee of the organization, leading to his resignation.
Following the investigation, Stephanie Dujirick, the spokeswoman for the UN Secretary-General, stated that the necessary steps were taken against the administrators of the organization, and that an investigation revealed that there was no theft or inappropriate use of the organization’s funds.
The International Red Cross, established by virtue of the Geneva Convention on the Laws of War, is a neutral and independent organization aimed at protecting the lives of victims of armed conflicts and providing humanitarian aid. The organization is funded by 196 countries that are signatories to the Geneva Convention, including Israel.
However, the organization has faced criticism, particularly in Israel, during conflicts such as the Iron Swords War. In one instance, the organization was not allowed to visit Israeli abductees in Gaza and provide them with medical care, despite demands from Israel and other parties.
As the new Director General of the International Red Cross, Karnabul will face the challenge of restoring trust in the organization and upholding its mission to provide humanitarian aid in conflict zones. His appointment has sparked debate and raised questions about the future direction of the organization, and many will be watching closely to see how he handles the challenges ahead.