Global perspective Human stories

New UN envoy to Timor-Leste takes up post

New UN envoy to Timor-Leste takes up post

Ameerah Haq
Ameerah Haq of Bangladesh, a humanitarian official with over three decades of experience with the United Nations, arrived today in Timor-Leste to take up her post as the world body’s top envoy to the fledgling Asian nation.

Ms. Haq, who is the Secretary-General’s new Special Representative to Timor-Leste, most recently served as deputy envoy and UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan from 2007 to 2009. Prior to that, she was served the same functions in Afghanistan.

She has broad management experience of complex missions, especially in Asia, making her “well-placed to lead the integrated peacekeeping mission in Timor-Leste,” known as UNMIT, according to a press release.

The official has also worked as the Deputy Assistant Administrator and Deputy Director of the Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery at the UN Development Programme (UNDP) in New York, as well as the UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in both Malaysia and in Laos.

Her career with the UN has also taken her to Thailand, Myanmar, Bhutan and Indonesia.