UNICEF’s Pakistan Representative named agency’s deputy chief

UNITED NATIONS: Martin Mogwanja, currently United Nations Children’s Fund Representative in Pakistan, has been appointed Deputy Executive Director of the agency, a UN spokesman announced Thursday.Mogwanja will succeed Omar Abdi, to whom Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is grateful for his “outstanding contribution to UNICEF and commitment to the ideals of the Organization,” spokesman Farhan Haq said.Before taking up his current post in January 2007 in Pakistan, Mogwanja, a Kenyan national, had served as Representative in both Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Anthony Lake, the Executive Director of UNICEF, said he was very pleased with the Secretary-General’s decision to appoint Martin Mogwanja, who, he said, has done a remarkable job in Pakistan as UNICEF Representative and recently as acting Humanitarian Coordinator. Lake said, “I have full confidence in his abilities and leadership.”  – App