East Timor Annual Appeal No. 01.63/2004

The International Federation's mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilising the power of humanity. The Federation is the world's largest humanitarian organisation, and its millions of volunteers are active in over 180 countries. All international assistance to support vulnerable communities seeks to adhere to the Code of Conduct and the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response, according to the SPHERE Project.
This document reflects a range of programmes and activities to be implemented in 2004, and the related funding requirements. These are based upon the broader, multi -year framework of the Federation's Project Planning Process (PPP). The PPP products can be requested through the respective regional department. For further information concerning programmes or operations in this or other countries or regions, please also access the Federation website at http://www.ifrc.org

National Context

According to the UNDP 2002 Human Development Report, East Timor (Timor Leste) is officially Asia's poorest country, with more than 40 per cent of the population living below the poverty line. Of the nation's 850,000 inhabitants, almost 70 per cent live in rural communities characterised by small, dispersed villages in mountainous areas, existing on subsistence agriculture with rice and coffee the main crops. Villagers are faced with the likelihood of seasonal food shortages and have little or no comparative advantages in agricultural commodities.

Almost three-quarters of the country lives without electricity. Public transport is not readily available, and the most common modes of transportation are buses between the main towns, walking, and the use of small ponies in agricultural areas. Nearly half of the population of 11 years or older have never attended school, and cannot read or write. While more than 80 per cent of inhabitants speak Tetun (the national language), Bahasa Indonesia is widely spoken; Portuguese, English as well as more than 30 local dialects are also used, which poses a particular challenge to humanitarian organisations such as the East Timor Red Cross - Cruz Vermelha Timor Leste (CVTL) - targeting the most vulnerable people.

Access to health services and information is poor, with barely half the population able to obtain safe drinking water and sanitary facilities. The infant mortality rate is among the highest in the world, while maternal mortality is considered to be one of the greatest problems in the country, with estimates of more than 860 women dying per 100,000 live births.

A Portuguese colony for nearly 400 years until 1975, East Timor was governed by neighbouring Indonesia from 1976 to 1999. In 1999, the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) was established to govern the Territory and oversee its transition to self-government. East Timor became an independent country in May 2002. and in 2003 officially became the 191st state party to the Geneva Conventions. The fledgling nation's first national development plan has two main goals: to reduce poverty and promote economic growth, in particular improving the health and education sectors. This was set in motion at an international donors meeting in May 2002, when 29 countries approved an initial aid package for East Timor of some CHF 660 million over three years to assure the transition of the country and minimum basic services, with the major part of assistance directed towards health and education.

International intervention has, however, generated a dual economy that has benefited the Timorese community little in terms of direct profits from economic activities. While in 2000, the UN statistic s division estimated that only eight per cent of the population was living in urban areas, over the past two years a significant migration from rural to urban settlements has been ongoing and is expected to continue if the situation in rural areas does not improve.

Red Cross Red Crescent Priorities

National Society strategy and programme priorities

The CVTL preparatory committee was established in 2000, initially supported by the ICRC. In early 2002, and with Federation assistance, the society established its own headquarters in the capital, Dili, and appointed a board, with members comprising government officials, NGO leaders and university professors.

The society's five district branches, including Dili, have limited infrastructure and resources, many operating without basic materials such as table and chairs. However, a strong network of active volunteers (at least 50 in each branch) exists, though activities are limited due to lack of training and equipment. There are approximately 800 CVTL volunteers in the 13 districts in East Timor. The national society is aiming at full recognition from the government and dissemination of Red Cross Law by 2005. Although the Geneva Conventions were signed in May 2003, without the establishment of visible and active braches at district level, and CVTL representation nationwide, achievement of full recognition by 2005 will be a challenge.

National society priorities for the next four years centred on recognition and admission to the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement during 2005 include:

• Full recognition by the Government by the end of 2005;
  
  
• Establishment of national and local governance;
  
  
• Development of the national society's long-term strategic plan;
  
  
• Consolidation of the headquarters structure and branch development;
  
  
• Continuation of volunteer-based activities at branch level using health education (community-based first aid/CBFA, HIV/AIDS and hygiene education) as an entry point;
  
  
• Strengthening capacity in carrying out quality health programme;
  
  
• Continuation of water and sanitation programmes combined with community-based health;
  
  
• Dissemination of humanitarian values, as well as the CVTL and Movement vision;
  
  
• Coordination/cooperation with NGOs, international organisations and government agencies ; and
  
  
• Development of small-scale disaster preparedness activities using volunteers.

The focus in programmes will mainly be on health including health education and promotion, first aid and HIV/AIDS, effectively building on the existing capacity of branches built through the long-standing CVTL water project. This will concentrate on integration with hygiene and education programmes for the first year before launching into major areas such as construction. Dissemination will be conducted through the volunteer network and former ICRC tracing branch officers, using the near completed dissemination handbook. Community-based disaster preparedness activities will also take place on a small-scale -- building upon existing activities and resources such as tree planting and training first aid volunteers.

Movement context

Although the country is new, a strong Red Cross Red Crescent Movement presence has existed in East Timor for many years. Prior to the country's independence, a range of activities, including the dissemination of international humanitarian law (IHL), first aid training, family care, and disaster management were carried out by the Indonesian Red Cross - Palang Merah Indonesia (PMI). The ICRC has also been a major player in the country, working since 1979 in the fields of detention, missing persons, health, and IHL training for armed and security forces. Since independence, ICRC has scaled-down its activities and now works with the Federation to support the formation of a Red Cross society in East Timor. Three Federation representatives have worked in the country since 2001.

(pdf* format - 69.3 KB)