Ismaili.NET - Heritage F.I.E.L.D.

Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan, a wealthy philanthropist who held a string of top U.N. humanitarian posts and was the uncle of the spiritual leader of the Ismaili sect of Shiite Islam, has died, associates said Tuesday. He was 70.
Sadruddin died Monday at Massachusetts General hospital in Boston, said Nasir Sunderji, an official of the Geneva-based Bellerive foundation, an environmental organization founded by Sadruddin.

There were no immediate details on the cause of death.

Sadruddin started his long career with the United Nations as an adviser to UNESCO for Afro-Asian projects. He was both the youngest and longest-serving U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, taking over the post in 1965 at age 33 and staying for 12 years.

'All in UNHCR and the humanitarian community are deeply saddened by the passing away of Sadruddin Aga Khan,' said Ruud Lubbers, the current refugee agency chief. 'He left an indelible print on UNHCR history, leading the agency through some of the most challenging moments.'

His name was 'synonymous with UNHCR,' Lubbers said.

Sadruddin spearheaded U.N. efforts to cope with 10 million refugees from the breakup of Pakistan and creation of Bangladesh in 1971. He helped find homes for tens of thousands of Vietnamese who fled their communist homeland in the mid 1970s, and for Asians kicked out of Uganda by former dictator Idi Amin.

After resigning as refugee chief in 1977, Sadruddin held a series of senior U.N. roles, including coordinator for the U.N. humanitarian assistance programs for Afghanistan during 1988-1990 and special U.N. representative for humanitarian assistance for Iraq and Kuwait after the Gulf War in 1990 and 1991. He was once mentioned as a possible U.N. secretary-general.

One of his mottos was to keep a 'cool head and warm heart without getting cold feet.'

After he stood down from U.N. duties, he became increasingly involved in environmental protection of the Alps and rare Alpine birds. He was decorated with a long list of international awards, including the French Legion of Honor.

Sadruddin was born in Paris in January 1933 into a world of fabulous wealth as the son of Sultan Mohammed Shah, Aga Khan III - spiritual lea