The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appointed Ameerah Haq of Bangladesh as his Special Representative for Timor-Leste and Head of the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) to succeed Atul Khare of India.

She brings to the Mission extensive management and operational experience, particularly at the senior level, said a press release today (Thursday).

Haq most recently served as Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sudan as well as the United Nations Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan (2007-2009). Before that she served as Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan, as well as the United Nations Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for Afghanistan (2004-2007).

The release said that Ameerah Haq's broad management experience in supporting complex mission deployment activities will greatly contribute to her new role at UNMIT.

She was formerly the Deputy Assistant Administrator and Deputy Director of the Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery at United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Headquarters in New York.

She served as the United Nations Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Malaysia from 1994 to 1997 and in the same capacity in Laos from 1991 to 1994.

Haq worked in the Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific at UNDP Headquarters in various capacities from 1980-1990, which included responsibilities for aid coordination mechanisms and as Desk Officer for Thailand, Myanmar and Bhutan.

She also had an assignment with the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) from 1985 to 1987.

She started her career in 1976 as a Junior Professional Officer in Jakarta, Indonesia and was transferred to Afghanistan as Assistant Resident Representative in 1978.

Haq obtained master's degrees in community organization and planning, and in business administration from Columbia University and New York University respectively.

She completed a Bachelor of Arts at Western College in Oxford, Ohio.