Palestine refugee agency chief steps down amidst mismanagement probe  

GENEVA, 07 Nov. - (ANA) - The Commissioner-General for the UN relief and works agency serving Palestine refugees, UNRWA, resigned Wednesday afternoon, hours after the UN announced preliminary findings of an investigation into misconduct allegations, and the Secretary-General's appointment of an interim replacement. 

Former UNRWA chief, Pierre Krähenbühl was placed on leave earlier in the day, as UN chief António Guterres said that Christian Saunders was being named acting Officer-in-Charge of the agency, based on preliminary report findings from the UN’s internal oversight body. 

The findings excluded “fraud or misappropriation of funds" by the Commissioner-General however, there are “managerial issues that need to be addressed'’, Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told correspondents in New York. 

“At this time, it is vital that Member States and other partners remain committed to UNRWA and the services it provides,'' he said.  - (ANA) -

AB/ANA/07 November 2019 - - -