The UNHCR, the UN agency for refugees, will be led by an Italian. To announce the appointment of Philippo Grandi it was indeed the secretary general of the United Nations, Ban Ki-Moon: the Italian diplomat will take office on 1 January, succeeding the Portuguese Antonio Guterres, High Commissioner for Refugees since 2005. Grandi already has an important role in his curriculum in the United Nations, given that from 2010 to 2014 he was in charge of UNRWA, the agency for the relief and employment of Palestinian refugees.
Great satisfaction for appointment of Filippo Grandi to the top of the UNHCR was expressed by the Prime Minister Matteo Renzi: “A recognition of Grandi's qualities and experience and of Italy – underlined the premier – on a key issue such as that of refugees and displaced persons. We welcome this news in Malta, during the summit on migration to which Italy is making a decisive contribution”, added Renzi who, in the next few hours, will hear from the UN secretary general Ban Ki Moon.
