Timor-Leste: Population Displacement OCHA Situation Report No. 11

This report is based on information received from the United Nations Office in Timor-Leste (UNOTIL), UN Agencies, international NGOs and media sources.
SITUATION

1. The security situation in Dili has calmed after several thousands of pro and anti-government demonstrators finally left the city on 30 June. Security forces report cases of house-burnings and isolated law and order incidents, but at a lower rate than previously. The streets of Dili are generally quiet. The Combined Task Force (CTF) - composed of Australian, New Zealand and Malaysian troops, supported by Australian and Portuguese police - maintains checkpoints and continues to patrol the city with a highly visible presence.

2. President Gusmao has appointed former Foreign and Defence Minister, Jose Ramos Horta, as the cabinet coordinator following the resignation of Prime Minister Alkatiri on 26 June. Parliament reconvened on 3 July for the first time since Alkatiri's resignation. Negotiations between the President and the political parties are expected to take place over the next few weeks before a new government and Prime Minister are appointed.

3. The Humanitarian Coordination Group meetings have been able to take place at the Ministry of Labour after it reopened this week. Government ministries that have reopened report low staff attendance due to continued fears.

4. The Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) in Timor-Leste has been established by the Humanitarian Coordinator and is meeting once a week. The IASC will complement the existing coordination group and work closely with the sector working groups that coordinate Food Security, Health and Nutrition, Water and Sanitation, Protection, Shelter/NFIs, Education and Camp Management.

5. There have been no recent updates on the figures provided by camp managers: 72,872 IDPs are reported to be living at 59 locations in Dili as of 3 July. The biggest camp is at Dom Bosco in Comoro, with more than 14,000 IDPs. Ministry of State Administration figures suggest that there are 78,984 IDPs in the 12 districts outside Dili, mostly living with host families.

6. The Rapid Joint Assessment of IDPs in districts outside Dili was completed over the last week end. The exercise aims to assess the impact of IDPs on host communities in the districts. INGOs and UN agencies (Concern, CRS, Oxfam, Plan, WFP, UNICEF and World Vision) have been working closely with district administrations in each district capital to gather the data. Preliminary results will be distributed to the sector working groups this week and a consolidated report will follow shortly.

7. WFP, Care, Concern and the Ministry of Statistics conducted an Emergency Food Security Assessment (EFSA) between 9 and 14 June. The assessment covered 250 randomly-selected households in IDP sites and communities in Dili. Initial findings shared with the food security sector working group show that 57% of the population assessed have lost their primary source of income. The number of households in Dili with a poor quality diet has increased to 48% from 15% in 2005, when a comparable WFP survey was conducted. Food prices have increased substantially and 70% of respondents have experienced significant loss of household assets such as stored food, livestock and other assets.

8. The multi-disciplinary needs assessment mission led by Ian Martin, Special Envoy of the UN SG to Timor Leste, will finish its consultations this week. The mission will remain in Timor-Leste until 9 July, before preparing recommendations for the Security Council on future UN assistance.

RESPONSE

9. Australia has doubled its support for humanitarian assistance in Timor-Leste by providing an additional $2.9m USD (Australian $4m). This latest contribution includes $1.5m USD for WFP's IDP feeding programme, $730,000 USD for UNDP support to IDPs, $460,000 USD for NGOs (Care, Oxfam, Caritas and Austcare), $182,000 for OCHA to continue its coordination efforts and $88,000 USD to purchase medical supplies for Dili Hospital.

10. This latest pledge brings total funding for the flash appeal to $15.3m USD, which is 78% of the $19.6m USD needed. WHO and UNFPA programmes remain underfunded and WHO has expressed grave concerns that without suitable funding it will be powerless to prevent major epidemics including malaria and dengue.

11. The Australian funding has allowed WFP to continue its food distributions uninterrupted after fears that it would be forced to cut its food ration. WFP distributed 48 MT of supplementary food (including emergency rations and sugar) to IDPs in Baucau and a further 28 MT of rice and supplementary food to IDPs in Metinaro between 30 June and 3 July. IOM delivered 21 MT of government rice to IDP camps in Dili and 0.4 MT to Baucau prison during the same period. It has been noticed that food shortages in the districts are leading to large increases in IDP numbers when the local population becomes aware that food distributions are taking place.

12. Nutritional assessments of children in Dili camps continue this week, conducted by an assessment team including UNICEF, the Ministry of Health (MoH), Care, Concern, World Vision, Christian Children's Fund (CCF) and Hyam Health. Children identified as severely malnourished are being referred to Dili National Hospital for therapeutic feeding and moderately malnourished children are being cared-for by doctors in the camps. During three days of screening at two of the largest camps in Dili, five children have been referred to the hospital.

13. UNHCR has delivered 2,045 tents, 3,284 plastic sheets, 17,490 blankets, 1,694 jerry cans, 191 stoves and 298 kitchen sets to IDPs in Dili and the districts since the beginning of June. A second consignment of shelter and non-food items including 850 tents, 15,000 blankets and plastic sheeting will arrive in Dili on 7 July.

14. Representatives of the child protection working group provided training on 3 July for 30 staff to support child protection focal points at the 22 largest IDP camps in Dili. Activities taking place at camps will include establishing child-friendly spaces, distribution and use of recreational kits and encouraging family participation. The system will now be extended to more camps in Dili.

15. OCHA is in close contact with the UN Country Team and UNOTIL in Dili and will revert with further information as it becomes available. This situation report, together with further information on ongoing emergencies, is also available on the OCHA Internet Website at http://www.reliefweb.int.

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Mr. Wojtek Wilk (in NY) Tel. +1-917-367-9748

Press contact:
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