Returns:
According to IOM 623 persons have returned
to East Timor this week, mostly from Atambua and Betun, which brings the
total of returnees to 168,004 as of July 27th. 1002 persons have been accounted
for in secondary movements, mostly to the districts of Bobonaro, Cova Lima
and Ainaro. In Viqueque, incidents occurred after returnees were handed
over directly to the local CNRT office, due apparently to the absence of
international personnel.
No date has yet been communicated by the UNHCR with regard to resuming the registration process. After a meeting between UNHCR and the Indonesian authorities in Denpasar (Bali) on the 18th, it was recommended that the TNI provide security during future registration exercises. Tensions remain in the camps and only limited assistance is delivered at the moment. ADRA has closed down their refugee support activities. UNHCR has tentatively scheduled two "Go and see" visits in the coming days, for the refugee population in Atambua. The bus line would transport a maximum of 50 people, travelling from Batugade to Maliana on the 8th of August, and from Batugade to Dili on the 11th. Information is currently being collected to assess the number of people interested. The screening process must be completed one week before movement takes place.
Security:
The security situation at the border area took a tragic turn with the death of a New Zealander contingent private in a confrontation with a militia group on July 24th, in Fatumean subdistrict, Cova Lima. As a consequence movement restriction in Sector West and in Cova Lima in particular has been imposed. UN security, CIVPOL and PKF have alerted the possibility of militia disturbances in Liquica, as well as in Batugade, where a family reunion will take place on Saturday 29th. PKF will have a reinforced presence at the reunion.
Health:
UNICEF completed the 2nd training course provided to the Association of midwives of East Timor, during which medical and safety kits were also distributed. WHO reported that the first phase of the bacteriology training course for medical laboratory scientists at the Central Health Laboratory has just finished; phase II of the programme will commence in mid-August. Health facilities in East Timor are encouraged to contact the Dili Hospital to benefit from the micro-biological expertise available. In the epidemiological reports collected this week, WHO noted a drop in the cases of bloody and watery diarrhoea cases (29 and 230 respectively), the stabilisation of malaria cases (1,471) with no reported death and 1 confirmed case of typhoid in Cova Lima. Besides, MDM-Portugal reported a case of paragonimiasis ("Lung Fluke Disease"), a disease that has the same symptoms as tuberculosis and that is acquired through the consumption of inadequately cooked crustaceans carrying the parasites. Dogs, cats and pigs are also reservoir hosts.
Throughout East Timor, 7,481 medical consultations have been registered this week. 11 out of 13 District Health Plans have been submitted to the Interim Health Authority to date and will be examined by a World Bank team over the next two weeks. Their implementation will be taking place as soon as possible.
Food distribution and agriculture:
WFP has reported a recent delivery of 60MT of fertiliser to Baucau. Bobonaro district also received fertiliser. Furthermore, 60MT of food (rice, maize and beans) have been delivered to Maliana, 40MT to Cova Lima and another 40T to Manufahi. In the other districts, distribution continues to draw on the existing stocks. WFP has also assisted coffee producers in the transportation of their production in Maubisse area to several market places; a similar assistance could be provided to Aileu and Ermera. WFP air assets have also facilitated the delivery of shelter material for World Vision in Bobonaro.
The fertile area near Dilor, in Viqueque, has been the stage of large destruction by rats over the past 3 months. This issue has been repeatedly brought to the attention of the various actors in the agriculture sector. UNMOs have reported that an estimated 70% of this summer's harvest in rice and maize could already be lost. According to the FAO representative in Dili, the problem cannot be solved at this stage: the rat population has reached a peak and its food supply remains abundant; there would be no point in using pesticide since it would only affect a marginal number of rats. To prevent this situation in the future, a longer-term community-oriented training programme is required. Local producers should be provided with a simple methodology (tested in the Philippines). This would include instruction in areas such as: cleaning of fields and their surroundings, maintenance of a low level of water in the paddies, use of pesticide only at the very beginning of the phenomena when the rat population can still be controlled. The population also needs to be informed on how to use the pesticides and the risks they present for other animals. The current situation has immediate consequences with regard to the dependence of the local population on food assistance. The humanitarian affairs officer in Viqueque is following up this issue.
Shelter:
UNHCR has received funding for the continuation of its shelter programme and the distribution of the next batch of 8,500 kits. No deadline has been given for the completion of this exercise. While the Agency has announced its intention to increase the pace of shelter distribution, the eight implementing partners have repeatedly stressed that the existing constraints of limited transportation assets, budget and overwhelmed staff, are not likely to be solved. Some progress seems to have been made in organising in a more efficient supply of material from Surabaya to Dili. At the present time, a weekly average of 600 kits arrive by barge. This amount needs to be tripled to complete the distribution of the next batch of 8,500 kits before the end of the year. Furthermore, the management difficulties within the Tibar Warehouse delay the process; no improvement has been noted in this regard. INGOs are re-assessing local requirements in light of the expected increase in shelter demand consecutive to return movements, and the ongoing reconstruction conducted outside of direct humanitarian assistance. The UNHCR itself has decided not to undertake an overall re-evaluation of the distribution plan.
With regard to other shelter programmes, phase II of CARE's shelter distribution in Cova Lima should total 6018 shelter kits, exceeding by more than a 1000 its original plan, and is due for completion by 31 August. Another 300 complete kits are due to arrive to Suai by barge next week. World Vision has completed the largest part of shelter distribution with more than 5000 kits in the districts of Aileu, Ermera, Liquica and Bobonaro, funded by CIDA and AusAID. The distribution of another 9,400 kits, funded by ECHO, is underway in Bobonaro with air assistance from both WFP and PKF assets.
The ICRC programme was completed in Maliana subdistrict with some 1425 kits distributed. ICRC is currently undertaking an assessment in other areas of Bobonaro district for a second distribution . Caritas-Oecussi has reported that their original plan to distribute 4,000 shelter kits will be completed in September. However, approximately 700 kits need to be dispatched to inaccessible areas, for which Caritas is requesting air assistance. In Manatuto, Caritas-Baucau has distributed 300 shelter kits in an exercise that was not coordinated with the other humanitarian actors involved in the district. Need for additional assistance in shelter distribution has been requested in the areas of Viqueque and Bobonaro.
In recent days, humanitarian agencies have re-stated their growing concern with regards to the shelter programmes. Among other things, the poor reliability of local representatives with regard to the compilation of the list of beneficiaries was pointed out. This situation is taken very seriously by the Humanitarian Pillar; there is a multiplication of incidents involving NGOs and great popular demand for shelter material. Humanitarian officers at district level are encouraged to undertake information campaigns explaining the targeting of beneficiaries and the conditions of shelter distribution. The evolution of the various shelter programmes will be given special attention by the Humanitarian Pillar in the coming weeks.
School Rehabilitation:
UNICEF has announced that the second phase of their school rehabilitation programme could begin next week. The programme has been delayed for several months due to logistical problems. UNICEF is intending to re-roof some 800 classrooms by the end of the year. INGOs involved in school rehabilitation, such as IRC, Concern and Goal, have also reported significant difficulties and financial constraints in the transportation of reconstruction material to some districts. In turn, UNTAET's Education Department has reported that the practical phase of the World Bank Emergency School Readiness project might start early August, provided the source of material is identified, and that the programme is now re-scheduled to be completed by the end of the year. The US Army Engineers are involved in school rehabilitation in Dili. On the whole, the number of schools effectively operational for the next school year remains unpredictable.
Other projects:
USAID TEPs programme has been extended until end-August. It is financing road repairs, school rehabilitation, irrigation repairs and environmental rehabilitation. The QIPs joint team has conducted the monitoring of the implementation phase in 8 of the 13 districts. With regard to infrastructure, the Asian Development Bank is progressively financing the repairs of the main roads in the different districts, with a funding allocation per district reaching USD900,000 in some cases. Implementing partners are mostly local.
Military Assistance:
The US Civil Affairs have advised that air and sea assistance could be available for the humanitarian community between the 13th - 15th of September (three US ships, two amphibious landing crafts and three helicopters). Lift requests have been distributed to the NGOs; no passengers will be allowed. Most areas of East Timor will be covered.
The CMA has reported that the US Navy eye team will be providing eye examination, cataract surgery, fitting for glasses, frames and grinding of lenses, until the 29th of July. Cataract surgery is ongoing. Several hundred East Timorese have gathered at the Bario Pite Clinic where examinations have been taking place since the 16th of July.