United Nations appoints humanitarian aid coordinator for Gaza

(Patria) - The United Nations on Tuesday appointed a coordinator who will oversee the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza as part of a UN Security Council resolution adopted on Friday, Reuters reported.

Sigrid Kaag, the outgoing Dutch Minister of Finance, will be the Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza from January 8, the UN said in a statement.

"In this role, she will facilitate, coordinate, monitor, and verify the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza," the UN said. She will also establish a "mechanism" to accelerate aid to Gaza through countries not involved in the conflict.

A veteran UN diplomat, Kaag previously led an international team of experts tasked with overseeing the elimination of chemical stockpiles in Syria. In July, she announced she would leave the government due to the increasingly "toxic" environment for politicians in the Netherlands.

"We look forward to working closely with Ms. Kaag and the UN Office for Project Services in efforts to accelerate and simplify the delivery of life-saving humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians in Gaza," said US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller.