Comunicado - PNUD/UNDP

DISTRICTS "HAVE NOT BEEN FORGOTTEN"
07 June, 2006/ Dili;

Vital supplies are reaching displaced people and communities throughout Timor-Leste. With the number of displaced people in the districts now estimated to be over 62,000, the emphasis is to deliver food and essential supplies as quickly and as broadly as possible.

"The government has been delivering food to the districts for the past 4-5 weeks." said Sandra Thompson, UNICEF adviser to the Ministry of Labour. "Some efforts were disrupted due to the recent security concerns, but there is a plan in action to continue to meet critical needs." she added.

Over the past few days, 75 tonnes of rice have reached the Ministry of Labour's regional office in Baucau. CVTL (Cruz Vermelha de Timor-Leste) and the District Administration offices will assist in distribution to the three eastern-most districts of Timor-Leste. In Baucau, Timor-Leste's second largest city, it is estimated that 15,000 displaced people have sought refuge. Approximately 2,200 of these are concentrated in about 5 camps in and around the city.

Food supplies have also reached all of the western districts, including people in small camps in Liquica and Ermera. "One of the next priorities is to assess non-food needs," commented Ms. Thompson. "The water and sanitation working group plans to provide people in camps outside of Dili with blankets, latrines, soap and hygiene awareness."

Yesterday the first shipment of supplies reached the island of Ata'uro, located some 23 nautical miles from Dili, across the Wetar straight. The shipment included food supplies and nutrition supplements for 1,500 IDPs and also for the island's population of 8,000 people. The shipment also delivered vital non-food items such as jerry cans, 3 tonnes of rice, oil, and sugar for the World Food Programme's school feeding programme.

One of the challenges facing assessment teams in the districts is that most of the displaced are living with relatives, said UNCDF's Jill Engen. "The majority of IDPs in the districts are living with their families," she commented. "This makes it difficult to assess their needs, since they are increasing pressure on existing family resources". This may cause people to experience shortages of food and of cash.

Chairman for the Inter-Agency Humanitarian Assistance Group, Minister Arsenio Bano emphasised that the districts are a priority. "We need to work closely with local authorities to assess the number of IDPs and to ensure we are reaching people in communities. Our core message right now to the people in the districts is to reassure them that they have not been forgotten."

SRSG Hasegawa commended the humanitarian efforts underway. "The coordination of the UN Agencies, funds and programmes and international and national NGO's led by the government has so far been very successful in averting a major humanitarian crisis." He said. "However, the needs of the population are great and there is much more that needs to be done in the coming months as Timor-Leste works to resolve the issues behind the current crisis."

An appeal for funding the emergency humanitarian relief activities will be launched in the coming days.

The Inter-Agency Humanitarian Assistance Group meets daily to assess the changing needs and coordinate the response. It comprises many agencies, led by the Government of Timor-Leste. These include WHO, UNICEF, IOM, UNHCR UNDP, UNFPA, WFP, Catholic Relief Service, CARE International, AUSTCARE, Red Cross, Oxfam Australia, Plan International, MSF, World Vision, and CONCERN. Many local organisations also participate, as do donors such as AusAid and USAID.
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Kym Smithies
Communications Officer
UNDP Timor-Leste