Aid chief to leave U.N. post

UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 20 (UPI) -- Norway's Jan Egeland plans to leave his post as U.N. head for emergency aid operations by year's end, reports Aftenposten.

Egeland says he wants to return home and cited family reasons for his decision, the report said. He's married to a former Norwegian government minister for foreign aid and has two daughters.

Egeland, who has held the post of under-secretary general since 2003, had been working closely with Secretary General Kofi Annan, who also will leave on Dec. 31. Egeland had earned respect as a peace negotiator, the report said.

Commenting on his job which involves constant travel and leading an organization with 1,200 employees, he said, "It's an organization that never sleeps. There's always someone who has a crisis they want to discuss.

"I've never had a job which has been so exciting, but also so exhausting."

Egeland said he may continue to work in another post for the world body but wants to based in his home country.