UNHCR appoints new representative to Jordan

AMMAN — The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, has named Maria Stavropoulou as new UNHCR Representative to Jordan on Wednesday, the Agency announced on Wednesday, according to a statement for The Jordan Times.

Stavropoulou, who presented her credentials to the Secretary-General for Diplomatic and Expatriate Affairs, Majed Qatarneh, of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, comes with a long experience in the field and in management positions including in Syria, Mauritania, and New York.

Prior to that, the new UNHCR Representative in Jordan had also served in the Agency’s Office in Greece and worked for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the UN Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide.

Maria Stavropoulou comes with a wealth of experience in the challenges faced by countries hosting a large number of refugees, including in her native Greece where she held senior asylum-related positions in the administration at the onset of the Syria crisis.


“I am excited to come to a country that has been a generous host to millions of refugees throughout its history”, the newly appointed UNHCR Representative who holds law degrees from University College London and Harvard Law School, said.

“These are challenging times for the region and Jordan, and I look forward to working together with the Government of Jordan and the humanitarian and development community to help sustain support to the refugees and their hosts, especially those most in need, and to advance the work towards solutions.”



In 2024, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, will continue to provide protection, cash assistance for basic needs, health, and shelter to some 560,000 refugees in communities across Jordan and to about 130,000 women, men and children in refugee camps. In addition, UNHCR continues to facilitate resettlement and other third country solutions in support of Jordan.