Martin Griffiths | |
|---|---|
 Griffiths in 2018 | |
| United NationsUnder-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator | |
| In office 19 July 2021 – 1 July 2024 | |
| Appointed by | António Guterres |
| Preceded by | Mark Lowcock |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Fletcher |
| United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen | |
| In office 16 February 2018 – 19 July 2021 | |
| Appointed by | António Guterres |
| Preceded by | Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed |
| Succeeded by | Hans Grundberg |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1951-07-03)3 July 1951 (age 74) |
| Nationality | British |
| Children | 2 |
Martin Griffiths (born 3 July 1951) is aBritish diplomat who served asUnder-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator at theUnited Nations from 2021 to 2024.[1][2]
Born inColombo,Sri Lanka,[3] Griffiths was educated atLeighton Park School andthe University of Sussex. He holds a Master's degree inSoutheast Asian Studies from theSchool of Oriental and African Studies at theUniversity of London and is a qualifiedbarrister.[4] He speaks French and English.[5]
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Griffiths was acareer diplomat at the UK'sForeign and Commonwealth Office and is an experienced conflict mediator.[3] He previously served as the firstexecutive director of theEuropean Institute of Peace from 2016 to September 2018.[6] In 1999, he helped launch theCentre for Humanitarian Dialogue inGeneva. He has also worked forSave The Children,Action Aid andUNICEF and has worked as an advisor to multiple United Nations Syria envoys.[3]
From 2018 to 2021 he served as theUnited Nations Special Envoy for Yemen at theOffice of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen.[7] In February 2021 he visitedIran in an attempt to find a political solution to theYemeni Civil War.[8]
On 12 May 2021, the United Nations Secretary-General,António Guterres, announced that he had appointed Griffiths asUnder-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator at theOffice for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, succeeding fellow BritonMark Lowcock.[9]
In February 2024, Griffiths expressed skepticism toward Israel's military aims in theGaza war, questioning its ability to resolve its conflict with Hamas militarily. Griffiths said that, from the perspective of the UN aid office, “Hamas is not a terrorist group for us, as you know, it is a political movement" and that "it is very very difficult to dislodge these groups without a negotiated solution; which includes their aspirations. I cannot think of an example offhand of a place where a victory through warfare has succeeded against a well-entrenched group, terrorist or otherwise.”[10]
In March 2024, Griffiths stated he was appalled by theAl-Rashid humanitarian aid incident, saying, "Life is draining out of Gaza at terrifying speed."[11]
On 25 March 2024, Griffiths announced that he was leaving his post at the United Nations for health reasons.[12] He retired on 1 July 2024 and was succeeded by fellow BritonThomas Fletcher.[13]
In November 2024, Griffiths was awarded an honorary degree byUniversity of Galway for services topeace-keeping anddiplomacy.
In March 2025, Griffiths was made an Honorary Research Associate of theHumanitarian Learning Centre at theInstitute of Development Studies,University of Sussex.[14]
In May 2025, Griffiths called the situation in Gaza agenocide, saying "I think now we've got to the point this is unequivocal."[15]
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| Preceded by Mark Lowcock (  ) | Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator 2021–present | Succeeded by |
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