Secretary-General U Thant yesterday saluted the posthumous award of the Fridtjof Nansen Medal to Charles H Jordan in recognition of his life’s work on behalf of refugees. The medal was presented to Mr. Jordan’s widow Thursday by Prince Sadruddin Aga Kahn, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, in ceremonies at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
Mr. Thant said in his message: “On the occasion of the award of the Nansen Medal for 1968, made in remembrance of Fridtjof Nansen, the first League of Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the Nansen Award Committee annually honors a great benefactor of humanity. It is only fitting that this year the commission has decided to honor the memory of(Mr.) Jordan and to pay tribute to his lasting work on behalf of refugees. Mr. Jordan was, at the time of his death in August, 1967, director-general of the overseas services of the American Joint Distribution Committee and chairman of the Refugee Commission of the International Council of Voluntary Agencies. This award is a token of appreciation and gratitude for Mr. Jordan’s devotion to the cause of refugees.”
Mr. Jordan died under mysterious circumstances in Prague in August, 1967 while visiting there with his wife. The case remains unsolved.
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