SS ReportÂ
19 December, Geneva/New York:
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi has welcomed the election of former Iraqi president Barham Salih as the new head of the UN refugee agency (UNHCR). Salih was elected by the UN General Assembly in New York following a competitive selection process involving candidates from several countries.
Barham Salih will assume office on January 1, 2026, and will be based in Geneva. Welcoming the decision, Grandi praised Salih’s long record of public service and leadership. He said Salih brings decades of experience in high-level governance, along with a thoughtful and principled approach to diplomacy.
Grandi noted that Salih comes from a country that has experienced conflict, persecution, and large-scale displacement in recent years, giving him a direct understanding of the challenges faced by refugees worldwide. He added that Salih’s background and experience make him well suited to lead UNHCR at a time when global displacement has reached unprecedented levels and humanitarian and political challenges are becoming increasingly complex.
Filippo Grandi’s 10-year term as High Commissioner will end on December 31, 2025. He took office in January 2016 and led UNHCR through major global displacement crises, including those in Syria, Ukraine, and Sudan.
Despite significant cuts to humanitarian funding this year, UNHCR continues to operate in 128 countries. The agency employs more than 14,600 staff, nearly 90 percent of whom work in the field. This month, UNHCR marks 75 years of protecting forcibly displaced people worldwide.
