Jan Egeland
Jan Egeland | |
---|---|
Occupation | Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council |
Known for | Humanitarian work |
Political party | Labour Party |
Spouse | Anne Kristin Sydnes |
Children | 2 |
Jan Egeland (born 12 September 1957) is a Norwegian diplomat,
Over the course of his career, Egeland has also served as Deputy Director of
Early life and education
The son of Norwegian politician
Career
Early beginnings
Egeland began working with
Egeland later served as Chair of
Egeland first attracted attention as
Roles in government
Egeland's career also includes service to his government as
During his time in office, Egeland actively participated in a number of peace processes. He co-initiated and co-organized the Norwegian channel between
Career with the UN
After stepping down from his government position,
Egeland assumed his post as the Under-Secretary-General (USG) for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator (ERC) in August 2003. This position is the head of the UN
Egeland focused his efforts in alleviating the needs of this sector of the population in complex emergency situations like the
Ahead of the
Other activities
- International Crisis Group (ICG), Member of the Board of Trustees (since 2010)[13]
- Humanitarian Leadership Academy, Chairman of the Board of Trustees (2015-2016)[14]
- Overseas Development Institute (ODI), Member of the High Level Panel on Humanitarian Cash Transfers (2015)[15]
- Refugee Studies Centre, Oxford Department of International Development, University of Oxford, Honorary Associate [16]
- The Global Executive Leadership Initiative (GELI), Executive Board Member[17]
- Grand Bargain, Eminent Person (appointed 2021)[18]
Political positions
In a United Kingdom Channel 4 interview Egeland laid the blame on the crisis in Lebanon on Hezbollah who he said "Hide amongst the civilian population and which gives the Israeli air force no choice but to attack civilian structures,"[19] though he also has referred to the Israeli strikes as "a violation of humanitarian law".[20]
On 28 July 2006, during the Israel–Hezbollah War, he proposed a 72-hour cease fire between Israel and Hezbollah in order for emergency relief to move the wounded and get food and medical supplies into the war zone. Israel rejected the proposal, claiming that the humanitarian corridor it opened to and from Lebanon was sufficient for the purpose. Egeland responded that "Hizbollah is not necessarily the biggest obstacle to an agreement".[21] Israel later agreed to a 48-hour halt of bombing, while reserving the right to take action against targets preparing attacks.[22]
In March 2008, Egeland gave a lecture entitled "War, Peace and Climate Change: A Billion Lives in the Balance" at the University of San Diego's Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice Distinguished Lecture Series.
Tsunami relief
On 27 December 2004, during the initial phase of the
Lebanese aid
In July 2006, Egeland launched a US$150 million aid appeal for Lebanon, following the destruction of parts of Lebanon by Israeli forces during the 2006 Lebanon War and subsequent displacement of many thousands of refugees.
Egeland, though critical of Israel, lashed out against Hezbollah in terms that no UN official had dared yet, saying:
Consistently, from the Hezbollah heartland, my message was that Hezbollah must stop this cowardly blending ... among women and children. I heard they were proud because they lost very few fighters and that it was the civilians bearing the brunt of this. I don't think anyone should be proud of having many more children and women dead than armed men. We need a cessation of hostilities because this is a war where civilians are paying the price.[26]
Gaza violence
During a visit to the Gaza Strip to survey the damage, Egeland was quoted as saying that the bombing of a power plant would affect schools and hospitals more than the militants. "This is very clear, a disproportionate use [of power]," Egeland told reporters. "Civilian infrastructure is protected. The law is very clear. You cannot have any interpretation in any other way."[27]
Egeland criticized the
Syrian Civil War
Egeland has chaired the United Nations panel on humanitarian access in
Publications
In 1989, Egeland wrote Impotent Superpower -- Potent Small State in which he portrayed Norway, which at the time devoted the highest percentage of its money to development of any country in the world, as a moral entrepreneur.[7] In 2008 he published a memoir A Billion Lives: An Eyewitness Report from the Frontlines of Humanity about his time at the UN from 2003 to 2006.[32]
Criticism
Egeland has been criticized for the way he handles relief programs.
In 2007, the Norwegian TV channel
In March 2008, TV2 aired another documentary entitled Sultbløffen (The famine scam) about the
Recognition
Awards
- 2005 – Peer Gynt Prize
- 2005 – Roger E. Joseph Prize by Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion[35]
- 2008 – Four Freedoms Award
Other accolades
In 2006, Time magazine named Egeland one of the 100 "people who shape our world"[36],.[37]
In 2012, the Norwegian group Ylvis produced a parody/tribute rock song about Jan Egeland, hailing him as "the United Nations superhero man" and "a peacekeeping machine".[38] Egeland's response, in an e-mail to NPR, was "I think it is hilarious with its crazy text and great tune."[39] As of December 2021, the video has been viewed more than 19 million times.
Personal life
Egeland was married to former
References
- ^ "Jan Egeland | Biography & Facts | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ^ "Scandinavia has a 'migrant-friendly' reputation. But is that changing?". openDemocracy. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ^ "Norwegian Official Calls for Girl's Access to Education". TOLOnews. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ^ a b UN humanitarian chief Egeland leaving post at end of year IRIN, 20 November 2006.
- ^ "The Harry S. Truman Research Institute for the Advancement of Peace".
- ^ "Secretary-General Appoints Jan Egeland Of Norway New Under-Secretary-General For Humanitarian Affairs". Un.org. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
- ^ New York Times.
- ^ Optimist in a World of Turmoil: An Interview with Jan Egeland Reflection, Yale Divinity School, 2007.
- ^ Tom Miles (22 September 2015), U.N. picks four Europeans to lead groups in Syria talks Reuters.
- ^ Laila Bassam, Suleiman Al-Khalidi and Tom Perry (15 December 2016), Buses evacuate thousands of exhausted Aleppo residents in ceasefire deal Reuters.
- ^ Tom Miles and Tamara Vaal (29 November 2018), U.N. says Astana meeting on Syria a missed opportunity, no progress Reuters.
- ^ Secretary-General Announces Appointments to Independent Senior Advisory Panel on Syria Humanitarian Deconfliction System United Nations, press release of 21 January 2021.
- ^ Crisis Group Announces New Board Members International Crisis Group (ICG), press release of 1 July 2010.
- ^ Dr Jemilah Mahmood appointed Chair of the Humanitarian Leadership Academy International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), press release of 10 February 2016.
- ^ High level panel on humanitarian cash transfers, January 2015 to September 2015 Overseas Development Institute (ODI).[dead link]
- ^ "People". www.rsc.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
- ^ "Our Executive Board page". GELI. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
- ^ "Jan Egeland appointed Eminent Person of the Grand Bargain | IASC". interagencystandingcommittee.org. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
- ^ "UN official accuses Hezbollah of 'cowardly blending' among civilians Israel News". Haaretz. 25 July 2006. Archived from the original on 25 January 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
- ^ "Israel bombing breaks humanitarian law - UN official". Today.reuters.co.uk. 9 February 2009. Retrieved 5 June 2010.[dead link]
- ^ "Israel avviser våpenhvile - Aftenposten". Aftenposten.no. 1 January 1970. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
- ^ "Israel to Halt Bombing for 48 Hours". Retrieved 4 August 2006.
- ^ "Are We Stingy? Yes". The New York Times. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-4165-6096-8- see Chapter 5 for a lengthy discussion of this incident.
- Time Magazine. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
- ^ "Stop 'cowardly blending' among civilians: Egeland to Hezbollah". Zeenews.com. Retrieved 5 June 2010.
- ^ "BBC: Gaza offensive 'disproportionate'". BBC News. 25 July 2006. Retrieved 5 June 2010.
- ^ "Food will run out in days under Israel's total blockade of Gaza, humanitarian experts warn". CBC. 11 October 2023.
- ^ "Israel - Gaza: World leaders must call for an immediate ceasefire". NRC. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
- ^ United Nations. (7 December 2017). "Children not a 'bargaining chip' in tug of war between Syrian parties – UN advisor". UN News Centre website Retrieved 10 December 2017.
- ^ Egeland, Jan. (26 December 2016). "Escape from Aleppo, at last: Jan Egeland". USAToday website Retrieved 10 December 2017.
- ^ David Jones (29 November 2008), Politics and religion Financial Times.
- ^ "De hvite hjelperne i de hvite bilene". Aftenposten. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
- ^ Garvi, Esther (3 March 2008). "The media has awakened". Esthergarvi.com. Archived from the original on 31 December 2010. Retrieved 5 June 2010.
- ^ "2005 Jan Egeland". The Roger E. Joseph Prize. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
- ^ "Jan Egeland | NRC Secretary General". NRC. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ^ Gupta, Sanjay (25 April 2006). "Jan Egeland". Time. Archived from the original on 14 June 2006. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
- ^ "Ylvis – Jan Egeland [Official music video HD]". YouTube. 30 September 2012. Archived from the original on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
- ^ Kelemen, Michele (7 October 2012). "The U.N.'s 'Superhero Man': A Rocking Tribute To A Humanitarian : The Two-Way". NPR. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
External links
- Secretary-General Appoints Jan Egeland of Norway New Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, UN press release in 2003
- United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
- The white saviors and the white trucks
- Egeland accused of bluffing about starvation
- Lecture transcript and video of Egeland's speech at the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice at the University of San Diego, March 2008
- Appearances on C-SPAN