UN chief appoints Ebola crisis managers

The outbreak of the Ebola virus disease has spread rapidly across West Africa since early cases were detected in March

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has appointed three crisis managers for Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone where the Ebola epidemic is spreading.

His spokesperson said Wednesday Ban appointed Marcel Rudasingwa of Rwanda as Ebola crisis manager for Guinea, Peter Jan Graaff of the Netherlands for Liberia and Amadu Kamara of the US for Sierra Leone, Xinhua reported.

The crisis managers will work with their host governments and key stakeholders to ensure a rapid and effective international response to the Ebola crisis. The appointments are part of the newly established UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER).

Rudasingwa worked with the UN Children's Fund (Unicef) for almost 20 years, having served extensively in various senior management and leadership functions in Kenya, Mali, Guinea and Denmark, according to the announcement.

Graaff has a wealth of experience in international health issues with international affairs, having served extensively with the World Health Organisation (WHO) in a number of countries in Africa, and Afghanistan and Hait.

Kamara has a diverse portfolio spanning the continent of Africa in international affairs. He has served extensively with the world organization in various senior management support functions and other roles in Liberia, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Timor Leste, Haiti, and Lebanon.

The outbreak of the Ebola virus disease, a highly contagious and fatal virus transmitted through close contact with the infected, has spread rapidly across West Africa since early cases were detected in March, leaving thousands of sick and dead in its wake and sowing panic among communities.