There is an urgent need to return East
Timorese displaced from West Timor and elsewhere in Indonesia to their
communities of origin in order for rehabilitation, reconstruction and development
to begin as quickly as possible. The safe and orderly return transportation
of displaced persons is the responsibility of IOM by agreement and in close
cooperation with UNHCR.
Summary
Today, IOM repatriated a total of 941 people to East Timor. Two land convoys were organised to repatriate refugees from West Timor. The first convoy of 35 IOM leased trucks repatriated 648 refugees from camps in the Atambua region to the Motaain border crossing and then to Batugade. The second convoy of 20 IOM leased trucks repatriated 197 refugees from camps in the Betun area to the Wala border crossing. One flight repatriated 96 people from Kupang to Dili. Today's movements seem to confirm an increase in the total number of people returned by land. This could be attributed to better security in some of the camps in West Timor.
As of 13 December, IOM has organized the return by land, sea and air of 68,544 East Timorese from West Timor, from Indonesia and from Australia. So far, more than 120,000 people have returned in an organized or in a spontaneous way to East Timor.
Total returns by land
To date, IOM has returned 27,892 East Timorese by land from West Timor.
Total returns by sea.
To date, IOM has returned 28,792 East Timorese by sea from
West Timor and from other parts of Indonesia
Total returns by air
To date, IOM has returned 7,195 East Timorese from Kupang to Dili and 3,908 from other parts of Indonesia.
A total of 757 East Timorese have so far been returned by IOM from Darwin to Dili.
Funding
IOM has made an appeal to the international community for US$25,565,000 for its Timor activities. This includes US$23,250,000 for the return assistance of displaced people to East Timor. So far a total of US$6,678,525 have been pledged by Portugal, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Germany, the Netherlands and ECHO. IOM currently faces a shortfall of US$18,886,481.
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International Organization for Migration (IOM)
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