There is a continuing need to return those
displaced persons in West Timor to their communities of origin in East
Timor, in order for rehabilitation, reconstruction and development to begin.
The safe and orderly return transportation of displaced persons is the
responsibility of IOM by agreement and in close co-operation with UNHCR.
Summary
Over the last three days, IOM has helped a total of 1,038 displaced East Timorese to return home from West Timor.
On 4 February, one IOM land convoy repatriated 454 people from Atambua to Batugade. IOM provided return assistance to a further 47 people from Betun to the border town of Salele, near Suai.
On 3 February, 139 people were transported from Atambua across the border to Batugade.
On 2 February, one land convoy repatriated 306 people from Atambua to Batugade. Another IOM convoy repatriated 24 people from Betun to Suai. In addition, 65 people were transported from Napan to Oecussi. All land convoys were escorted to the border crossing points by Indonesian military (TNI) On 2 and 3 February, IOM provided secondary transportation from Dili to Maubisse (9), Baucau (4) and to Los Palos (4). The IOM operated ship Patricia Anne Hotung will sail from Kupang on the 4 February with 449 returnees on board. The ship will dock in Dili on 5 February.
As of 4 February, IOM has organised the return by land, sea and air of 85,552 East Timorese from West Timor, from other parts of Indonesia and from Australia. The total number of returnees now stand at 135,226
Total returns by land
To date, IOM has returned 40,305 East Timorese by land from West Timor.
Total returns by sea
To date, IOM has returned 32,621 East Timorese by sea from West Timor and from other parts of Indonesia
Total returns by air
To date, IOM has returned 7,793 East Timorese from Kupang to Dili and 3,912 from other parts of Indonesia. A total of 921 East Timorese have so far been returned by IOM from Australia.
Funding
IOM has received support from the international community to fund its Timor activities. Portugal, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Germany, the Netherlands, Australia, Japan and ECHO financed IOM's return movements to East Timor totalling US$ 13,710,988.
Now that the emergency phase is winding down, efforts are concentrated on post-conflict rehabilitation through a range of interrelated projects such as the return of qualified nationals, reintegration of demobilized combatants, mobile information and referral services, community based rehabilitation and migration management capacity building. These activities form an integral part of the international humanitarian communities' response to the crisis.
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