UN Appoints Bruno Géros Lemerki as New Deputy in Afghanistan Amid Humanitarian Crisis
The United Nations has announced the appointment of Bruno Géros Lemerki, a French diplomat, as the new Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan and Humanitarian Coordinator. He will serve within the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and simultaneously hold the position of Resident Coordinator. Lemerki replaces Indrika Ratwatte.
This appointment comes as Afghanistan faces a severe economic and humanitarian crisis, with over 20 million people reliant on foreign aid. Ongoing restrictions imposed by the Taliban administration in areas such as education, employment, and access to healthcare have further complicated the vulnerable situation of the population and increased the scope of humanitarian needs.
UNAMA, established in 2002, is responsible for coordinating international assistance, monitoring human rights conditions, and facilitating political dialogue. Since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, UNAMA has operated within a more constrained political and social environment, making its role in coordinating aid delivery even more critical.
According to released information, Lemerki brings over three decades of experience in humanitarian and development fields. Since 2022, he has served as Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in the UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where he also managed the roles of Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator.
Prior to that, he held similar positions in Haiti and senior roles within the UN Development Programme focusing on crisis response, reconstruction, and peacebuilding. Somalia, the Palestinian territories, and Cambodia are among other locations where he has been deployed.
Given the scale of humanitarian operations in Afghanistan, Lemerki is expected to play a central role in strengthening cohesion and coordination of aid programs—some of the largest relief efforts worldwide—which are vital to millions of residents under current circumstances.
