Timor-Leste Annual Appeal No. 05AA053

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, objectives, and related activities to be implemented in 2005, and the corresponding funding requirements. These are based upon the broader, multi-year framework of the Federation's Project Planning Process (PPP). The PPP products are either available through hyperlinks in the text ¹, or can be requested through the respective regional department. For further information please contact: In Geneva: Charles Evans/Sabine Feuglet, Southeast Asia Desk; Phone: +41.22.730.4320/4456, Fax: +41.22.733.0395; email: charles.evans@ifrc.org or sabine.feuglet@ifrc.org; or please also access the Federation website at http://www.ifrc.org.

National Context

According to the UNDP 2003 Human Development Report, Timor-Leste is officially Asia's poorest country, with more than 40 percent of the population living below the poverty line. According to figures just released from a census conducted in 2004, there are some 942,000 people living in Timor-Leste, a rise of 17.4 percent since a survey in 2001, equating to an average annual increase of 5.7 percent and perhaps the fastest growing population in the world. The census also confirmed a seemingly inexorable migration from country to urban living: the capital Dili has seen its complement expand by nearly 40 percent since 2001, to nearly 168,000. Even so, almost 80 percent of inhabitants still 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 percent 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 Timor-Leste Red Cross Society - Cruz Vermelha de 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 660 women dying per 100,000 live births.

A Portuguese colony for nearly 400 years until 1975, Timor-Leste was governed by neighbouring Indonesia from 1976 to1999. In 1999, the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) was established to govern the territory and oversee its transition to self-government. Timor-Leste became an independent country in May 2002 and in 2003 officially became the 191st state party to the Geneva Conventions. Most of the UN forces withdrew in May 2004, but a one-year mandate extension meant that 310 troops, 42 military officers, 157 police advisors, 58 civilian advisors and a 125-person international response unit would stay. There has been no paramilitary activity in the border areas since the UN reduction.

The country's first national development plan had two main goals: to reduce poverty and promote economic growth, and in particular develop the health and education sectors. The overall economic perspectives are, however, not bright. Timor-Leste's total state budget for 2004 is USD 74.6 million, of which 45 percent is funded by foreign aid. There has, however, been a strong and steady decline in foreign aid, from USD 300 per capita in 2000 to USD 175 per capita in 2003. The only improvement in the country's economy relates to natural gas. Production in one gas field, where Timor-Leste is entitled to 90 percent and Australia 10 percent of the revenues, has picked up and is likely to bring between more than USD 40 million in 2004. Utilisation of oil reserves in the sea are, however, still pending, while Timor-Leste is seeking an agreement with Australia on rights and maritime boundaries.

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 percent 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 and Red Crescent Priorities

Movement Context

Although the country is new, a strong Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement presence has existed in Timor-Leste 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 Society - 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 Timor-Leste, reestablishing its delegation during 2004. The Committee's main focus now is tracing and the establishment of a 'Missing Commission'.

In December 2003 a joint Federation/ICRC team visited Timor-Leste to work with CVTL in developing a plan of action towards recognition by the ICRC and admission to the Federation in 2005. The pursuit of this ambitious goal implied extensive efforts in 2004 and represents a comprehensive undertaking through 2005.

Another major challenge for the Red Cross and Red Crescent is to support the development of adequate and effective programmes in accordance with CVTL's priorities and the Movement's strategies, a process that was successful in 2004. An overall long-term goal is to help CVTL reach a level of proficiency where the society can implement programme activities independently.

Until recently, the Federation maintained its presence through the deployment of in-country representatives. In mid-2004 however, with the assignment of an Australian Red Cross sponsored organisational development delegate - charged primarily with anchoring support for the CVTL recognition and admission process - and, almost simultaneously, the deployment of a Japanese Red Cross health delegate, a Federation delegation was established in Dili, an initiative warmly welcomed by the fledgling national society.

National society strategy

CVTL's overall strategy is targeted at providing vulnerable people with quality services and to become a full member of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement - its current status is a 'society seeking recognition and admission'. To this end, the society's organisational development progressed well in 2004 and now aims at building on the achievements. Development of a four-year strategy started in 2004, with completion planned in 2005. CVTL remains committed to realising the goal of recognition and membership in 2005.

The plan of action implies completion of the following ambitious tasks in 2005:

• Establishment of membership.
• Completion of CVTL statutes.
• Completion of a four-year strategy.
• Development of an adequate organisational structure in branches and headquarters, including national and local governance.
• Recognition by the Timor-Leste government, through Red Cross laws.
• Local elections and general assembly.

A long-term goal for CVTL is to engage all 1,000 volunteers in Timor-Leste's 13 districts in meaningful programme activities. Eleven district volunteer representatives and one branch coordinator were appointed for this purpose in 2004. The need to offer activities to the volunteers will, however, remain a challenge for some time.

Although the capacity of the national society at headquarters level has increased, similar development at the branches is a challenging long-term goal. There are indications that this is a viable objective however, with young people forming the bulk of the volunteer complement, ready and increasingly trained to participate in disaster reduction/alleviation activities.

CVTL also aims at aligning its programmes with the Timor-Leste government's priorities and develop practical programme cooperation, also with international organisations.

Notes:

¹ Identified by blue in the text.

² USD 762,551 or EUR 598,524.

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