The UN Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan, yesterday appointed Ms Catherine Bertini to be his personal humanitarian envoy to the Middle East.
Ms Bertini is to travel to the region this weekend to assess the crisis and review humanitarian needs in the light of recent developments, a statement from Mr Annan said.
Ms Bertini's reports to Mr Annan will be passed to the Middle East "quartet" - the EU, the US and Russia with the UN - for talks on how to stabilise the region on a path toward peace.
Mr Annan said the impetus for Ms Bertini's mission stemmed from a decision agreed at a quartet meeting last month that the UN "should lead a concerted international effort to alleviate the plight of the Palestinian people".
The UN General Assembly on Monday adopted a resolution condemning Israel for its incursion into Jenin camp and demanding it withdraw to positions before September 2000, when the Palestinian uprising, began. - (AFP)