The United Nations Mission to support the Hudaydah Agreement (UNMHA) is pleased to announce the arrival of its new Deputy Head of Mission, Ms. Mari Yamashita of Japan. She deployed to Hudaydah on 2 July 2024, following engagements with counterparts in Aden and Sana’a, and courtesy calls with the diplomatic community in Amman.

In her new assignment, Ms. Yamashita will also serve as Deputy Chair of the Redeployment Coordination Committee (RCC). Leveraging her extensive experience in preventive diplomacy, peacebuilding and political affairs, she will play a pivotal role in supporting the implementation of the Hudaydah Agreement and advancing lasting peace in Yemen.

Ms. Yamashita brings a distinguished career spanning over 30 years, including leadership positions both at UN headquarters and in the field. Most recently, she served as the Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office in Belgrade from 2020 to 2024.

Ms. Yamashita holds a Bachelor of Law degree from Jochi Daigaku/Sophia University (Japan) and a Master of Arts degree in Law and Diplomacy from The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University (USA). In addition to English, she is fluent in Japanese, German, French and basic Finnish.

Ms. Yamashita succeeds Ms. Vivian van der Perre of the Netherlands who was appointed as Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General in the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), and to whom the UNMHA family is grateful for her service. UNMHA warmly welcomes Ms. Yamashita and looks forward to her leadership and contribution in advancing peace in Hudaydah.