Senior United Nations (UN) official Filippo Grandi from Italy has taken the charge as new UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). He succeeds Antonio Guterres of Portugal who has retired after heading the Refugee Agency for one decade. He will have tenure of five years.

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is a United Nations agency mandated to protect and support refugees. It is a member of the United Nations Development Group.

Established: December 14, 1950.
Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
Mission: Safeguard the political and human rights as well as well-being of refugees.