United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has announced the appointments of three persons as Ebola crisis managers as part of its international response to the epidemic that has claimed over 3,300 lives.

In a statement issued by the UN on Thursday, Marcel Rudasingwa of Rwanda has been appointed Ebola Crisis Manager for Guinea, Peter Jan Graaff of the Netherlands as Ebola Crisis Manager for Liberia and Amadu Kamara of the United States as Ebola Crisis Manager for Sierra Leone. 

The appointments are part of the United Nations Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER). In their respective roles, the Crisis Managers will work with their host Government along with key stakeholders in ensuring a rapid and effective international response to the Ebola crisis within their respective country. 

Mr. Rudasingwa brings great value of service with United Nations Children’s Fund for almost twenty years, having served extensively in various senior management and leadership functions in Kenya, Mali, Guinea and Denmark. Born in 1955 in Rwanda, Mr. Rudasingwa graduated from the Makarere University of Kampala in 1979 with a bachelor’s degree in languages and communication and has undertaken additional studies in psychology and teaching. 

Mr. Graaff brings to the position a wealth of experience in international health issues along with international affairs, having served extensively with the World Health Organisation in a number of countries in Africa, Afghanistan and Haiti, along with more recently leading the Civil Affairs and Development team within the United Nations Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). Born in 1960 in Heerde, the Netherlands, Mr. Graaff graduated from the University of Leiden in 1986 with a master’s degree in science focused on pharmacy, and from Herriot Watt University in 2003 with a master’s in business administration. 

Mr. Kamara brings to the position a diverse portfolio spanning the continent of Africa in international affairs, having served extensively with the United Nations in various senior management support functions and other roles in Liberia, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Timor Leste, Haiti, and Lebanon. Born in 1957 in Sierra Leone, Mr. Kamara graduated from the State University New York in 1981 with a bachelor’s degree in arts and economics and has undertaken post graduate studies at the New School for Social Research.