UNICEF’s Former Top Official in Ethiopia Dr. Salama Passes Away

ADDIS ABEBA – Former top official of United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Ethiopia, Dr. Peter Salama, has passed away on Friday due to a heart attack, according to the UN agency.

Henrietta Fore, UNICEF Executive Director, said in a statement issued that “the entire UNICEF family is deeply saddened by the sudden death of Dr. Peter Salama from a heart attack” in Geneva, Switzerland.

“Pete was a tireless advocate for children, a committed humanitarian and a highly respected professional,” said Fore.

Dr. Salama served as leader across a number of roles within UNICEF ranging from country representative in Ethiopia and Zimbabwe to Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa in Jordan.

He left UNICEF in 2016 to join the World Health Organization as Executive Director of its Health Emergencies Program before becoming Executive Director of its Division of Universal Health Coverage.

“All of us who had the privilege of working with Pete knew that he embodied the spirit of UNICEF like few others,” Fore said.

“Our most heartfelt condolences to his wife, his three children and all his friends and colleagues around the world. He will be sorely missed.”

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Image caption: In 2014, Peter Salama, in his then role as Country Representative of UNICEF Ethiopia, visits a makeshift school at Kule Camp in Gambella region of Ethiopia