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Hubertus Koebke, Security Coordination Officer, Pakistan
I was an army officer before joining the United Nations. I left Germany in 1997 to work with a non-governmental organization known as Caritas Internationalis in Macedonia, Kosovo, Columbia, and Albania. After five years of humanitarian work out in the field, I successfully applied for a position with UNHCR and subsequently to the Office of the United Nations Security Coordinator and later transitioning to UNDSS where I serve to date. My career with UNDSS has taken me to different parts of the world such as Afghanistan, Botswana, Iraq, Kurdish Region, Rwanda and Syria. I never imagined that I would ever visit these places. For several years I have been based in Lahore, which is the cultural capital of Pakistan; an amazing place to live and work if you love cinema, literature, music and good food. I also enjoy interacting with the Pakistani people, who are incredibly positive and welcoming. In fact, I wrote my second master’s thesis about Pakistan, so it has become a passion. Operating in conflict zones has enabled me to grow significantly as a person. Besides, my colleagues from around the world have also taught me a great deal. As such, the exposure to different cultures and people is immeasurable. My time at UNDSS has been an awesome, incredible journey. There’s simply no other way of putting it. |