The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) announced early Friday that Spanish humanitarian leader Jordi Raich Curco will take over as the director of the ICRC delegation in Colombia.
Raich explained to Colombia Reports that “as newly arrived, my first priorities will be to deepen my knowledge about the situation in the country and about the wide variety of ICRC activities and contexts while ensuring their continuation and making sure there is no gap in our frank and open dialogue with governmental and social actors, as well as with the parties to the conflict.”
Raich has been working in the humanitarian sector for 25 years. Thirteen of those years have been with the Red Cross.
Prior to accepting the Colombia assignment, Raich held the same position at the ICRC delegation in Sudan.
The Barcelona native also worked as the ICRC director in Lebanon and its chief of operations in Israel and occupied territories.
“He has more experience in humanitarian work in countries like Afghanistan, Liberia, Tajikistan, Rwanda, Burundi, Angola, Peru, and El Salvador,” the ICRC delegation said in a press release.
Raich replaces Christophe Beney, who led the delegation over the past three years.