UNHCR Representative in Canada, Rema Jamous, poses in front of a UN flag

Rema Jamous Imseis, UNHCR Representative in Canada © UNHCR/James Park

OTTAWA, Canada – The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Canada is pleased to welcome Ms. Rema Jamous Imseis as its new Representative in Canada, effective 27 January 2020.

Ms. Jamous is a native of Toronto, a dedicated humanitarian and lifelong advocate for refugees. She has been with UNHCR since 2017, most recently as Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa Bureau, where she covered UNHCR operations in North Africa, including Libya, as well as Yemen, the Gulf countries and Israel.

“I am thrilled to represent UNHCR in Canada, a country with a proud tradition of welcoming refugees, providing life-saving aid and supporting longer-term solutions for displaced persons,” said Jamous.

Ms. Jamous joins UNHCR Canada at a time when global displacement is at an all-time high. She will lead UNHCR Canada’s work in areas such as education for refugee children, putting women, girls and the most at risk at the heart of humanitarian response, and finding sustainable solutions for refugees – including resettlement to Canada, currently the world’s largest resettlement country.

“As conflict and persecution continue to force millions from their homes, we count on Canada to continue being an important ally in supporting refugees globally. At home, we see numerous examples of welcoming Canadians and volunteers who help enable refugees to make important contributions to their communities and to the country’s overall prosperity” Jamous added. “I am excited to see what we can accomplish by working together with Canada – and Canadians.”

Since joining the United Nations in 2003, Ms. Jamous has held numerous international assignments in the areas of political, legal and humanitarian affairs. Notably, she served as Head of the United Nations Regional Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Cairo, and as Special Assistant to the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process in Jerusalem.

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ABOUT UNHCR

For almost 70 years, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has been protecting the rights and well-being of refugees all over the world. It works to ensure that everybody has the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge, having fled violence, persecution, war or disaster at home. Since 1950, it has faced multiple crises on multiple continents, and provided vital assistance to refugees, asylum-seekers, internally displaced and stateless people, many of whom have nobody left to turn to. It helps to save lives and build better futures for millions forced from home.

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