Former UN food agency official claims he was fired for highlighting hunger in Gaza
Summary
A senior official at the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Benjamin Davis, said he was fired for highlighting hunger issues in Gaza. He claims his contract was not renewed because of a report on Gaza's hunger and his participation in vigils, while the FAO leadership said it was due to concerns over his conduct.Key Facts
- Benjamin Davis worked at the FAO for 26 years and was director of rural transformation and gender equality.
- Davis and his team published a report on hunger in Gaza in 2023 that was later removed from the FAO website.
- The Israeli mission to the FAO complained about the report and a related seminar.
- Davis took part in weekly moments of silence at the FAO to honor people killed, which drew further attention.
- The FAO's director-general, Qu Dongyu, publicly warned against "political activism" within the agency and threatened further firings.
- Davis argues that speaking out about hunger in Gaza is part of human rights work and vital to the FAO’s mission.
- The FAO cited Davis’s supposed violation of staff rules on impartiality and conduct as the reason for ending his contract.
- Davis and other staff were shocked by the FAO leadership's comments about human rights during the dispute.
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