Beirut
01 October 2012
The new Director of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency in Lebanon, Ann Dismorr, has taken up her post in Beirut. Today she was introduced to the Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, and House Speaker, Nabih Berri, by UNRWA Commissioner-General, Filippo Grandi. Ms. Dismorr will meet with the President of the Republic, Michel Sleiman, upon his return from abroad.
After her introductory meetings, Ms. Dismorr said: “I look forward to working with UNRWA’s dedicated staff to fulfill the Agency’s mission of serving Palestine refugees in Lebanon.”
Welcoming the new director, UNRWA Commissioner-General Filippo Grandi said, “it is a pleasure and an honour to welcome Ann to UNRWA’s management team. Her strong humanitarian and diplomatic experience will be an asset to our operations in Lebanon”.
Ms. Dismorr, a Swedish national, has a distinguished career with the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including most recently as Ambassador to Kenya. Ms. Dismorr also served as the Head of the International Department of the Swedish Parliament and Ambassador in Residence at Uppsala University. Prior to that, she was Ambassador to Turkey, Ambassador to Lebanon, Counselor at the Swedish Mission at the UN in Geneva and Deputy Director in the Middle East Department of the Swedish Foreign Ministry.
She holds a Bachelor degree in Political Science from the University of Stockholm, a Masters degree from the University of Gothenburg, and undertook PhD studies on the Middle East at Yale University.
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Background information:
UNRWA is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949 and is mandated to provide assistance and protection to a population of some 5 million registered Palestine refugees. Its mission is to help Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank and the Gaza Strip to achieve their full potential in human development, pending a just solution to their plight. UNRWA’s services encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, microfinance and emergency assistance. Financial support to UNRWA has not kept pace with an increased demand for services caused by growing numbers of registered refugees, expanding need, and deepening poverty. As a result, the Agency's General Fund (GF), supporting UNRWA’s core activities and 97 per cent reliant on voluntary contributions, has begun each year with a large projected deficit. In 2012, the initial budgeted GF cash deficit was USD 75 million.
For more information, please contact:
Hoda Samra
Public Information Officer
Tel: (+ 961 1) 840 490
Email: h.samra@unrwa.org 
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