Timor-Leste: Population Displacement OCHA Situation Report No. 13

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 remains calm. Security forces report isolated law and order incidents that are more associated with criminal activity than political unrest.

2. Out of almost 3,000 international troops (Australian, New Zealand, Malaysian and Portugese) that form the Joint Task Force, 573 are Police. The police are increasing their role in terms of provision of stability and security throughout Dili as they begin the transition from military to police primacy.

3. The number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) present in the camps in Dili and the surrounding areas is fluctuating, due to high population mobility. Current estimates remain at approximately 73,000 IDPs in Dili-based camps and additional 78,000 IDPs in the districts.

4. On 10 July 2006 Dr Jose Ramos-Horta, in his address at his swearing-in ceremony as Prime Minister of Timor-Leste, stated that "our immediate task is to ... make a return to their houses the thousands of brothers and sisters who during these weeks have taken refuge in several centres and give them necessary support to rebuild their lives."

5. On 11 July 2006 the Minister of Labour and Community Reinsertion (MTRC) called a meeting with key governmental agencies, humanitarian agencies and security forces to discuss the development of a national plan to assist in the safe return of IDPs to their communities and to provide ongoing support upon return within the broader context of peace building and national reconciliation. A Working Group on the Coordination of the Safe and Sustainable Return of IDPs was created under the chairmanship of the Minister of Labour to deal with the return of IDPs.

6. The new Prime Minister unveiled his Cabinet on 14 July. Prime Minister Jose Ramos-Horta picked East Timor's ambassador to the United Nations, Jose Luis Guterres, as the new Foreign Minister. The important post of Minister of Natural Resources, Minerals and Energy Policy is Jose Teixeira. Ramos-Horta said he will hold the Defense Minister post, as well as being Prime Minister.

7. In a communiqué 14 July, Prime Minister José Ramos Horta's government announced that it had approved a new, US$300 million budget for 2006-2007, US$15 million less than the previous proposal drafted by the outgoing cabinet. The government, it said, agreed to "adjust its budget proposal with an exponential increase in funds for state investment" and to cover costs of reconstructing destroyed public and private infrastructure and the "reintegration" of displaced people.

8. On 18 July, Australian Prime Minister John Howard paid a one-day visit to East Timor. He visited the UN Office in Timor-Leste (UNOTIL) and discussed with the by Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General (DSRSG) Anis Bajwa the political and security situation in the country were and possible roles for the UN and Australia in the future. Finn Reske-Nielsen, the Humanitarian Coordinator in Timor-Leste, briefed the Prime Minster on the humanitarian situation and thanked Australia for being the first to respond to last June's Flash Appeal for aid for Timor-Leste. The Australian deployment in Timor Leste includes 2,600 military land, sea and air personnel including 1,900 ground troops in Dili, according to the Defense Department's Web site.

9. The UN Independent and Special Commission of Inquiry for Timor Leste has arrived to Timor Leste and commenced work on 7 July 2006 to review the violent incidents that took place on 28-29 April, 23-25 May and other related events or issues which contributed to the crisis. This Commission was established by then Senior Minister Jose Ramos-Horta. The UN Secretary-General requested the High Commissioner for Human Rights to establish the Independent Special Commission of Inquiry for Timor-Leste on 12 June 2006. The report will be submitted to the UN Secretary-General and the National Parliament of Timor-Leste within three months. Its conclusions will be transmitted for appropriate measures of accountability to be taken by relevant bodies.

RESPONSE

10. 17 July marked the last delivery in the third distribution cycle of government rice that has started on 6 July. From 14-17 July, WFP dispatched 7.72 MT of assorted food commodities (CSB, Sugar) to Dili camps, a total of 15,323 beneficiaries. IOM operations have distributed a total of 1313.472 MT since May 29, 2006.

11. UNHCR continues distribution of NFIs to districts near Dili. To date, UNHCR has distributed 1,744 tents to 22 sites, 1,381 jerry cans to 7 sites, 879 kitchen sets to 15 sites, 219 stoves to 6 sites, 16, 749 blankets to 28 sites and 1,262 plastic sheets to 31 sites.

12. A rapid assessment of maternal and child health services in the districts was conducted 12-15 July in 11 districts over 13, by the MCH Department of the Ministry of Health with support from UNFPA and other partners. Preliminary results indicate that the crisis exacerbated pre-existing problems, such as a shortage of ambulances and fuel, and resulted in delays getting drugs and other supplies to the districts from Dili. It was also showed that the referral system was not functioning properly due to security problems within the districts and in Dili.

13. Camp management trainers from the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) have visited the main three camps in Dili and attended meetings on protection and camp management to familiarize themselves with camp issues in Timor-Leste. The training, which commenced on 18 July, is delivered to camp managers and representatives of the Site Liaison Support (SLS) network.

14. Whereas the displaced persons in the capital have had regular access to aid, less has been achieved to meet the needs of the people staying in host communities in the districts. Results of the recent assessments undertaken by the UN Country Team indicates that lack of employment, limited household incomes, insufficient food reserves, and disruptions of trade with Dili have left district-based host families vulnerable. Due to the increased burden of IDPs on host families, the food supply may decline to alarming levels in September, approximately two months ahead of the normal lean season. The humanitarian community is currently discussing with Government of Timor Leste the follow-up actions for the next months.

15. The Ministry of Health's measles immunisation and Vitamin A supplementation campaign, supported by UNICEF and other local and international NGOs, is currently implemented in Dili schools, to vaccinate children who were missed out in the first drive conducted in IDP camps. The campaign will also take in Baucau and Los Palos districts this week. More than 12,000 children were immunised in Dili camps and Atauro island. UNICEF has also purchased stationery supplies for 6 IDP camps, located in seminaries or schools, to help kickstart educational activities. 23,000 exercise books, pencils, pens, colouring pencils, erasers, reams of paper, rulers and teacher lesson plans, will be delivered shortly.

16. Between 7 and 13 July 2006, short-term employment opportunities have been provided to 840 people, including IDPs and youths, under the UNDP/ILO's "Servi Nasaun (Work for the Nation)" Project implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Labour and Community Reinsertion. The workers engaged in city cleaning activities in Tibar, Liquica District as well as three sub-districts of Dili: Cristo Rei, Don Alexo, and Vera Cruz. At the end of each activity, workers will be paid $2/day so that they and their families had funds to cover their immediate basic needs.

17. An Information Centre is being currently established at the Ministry of Labour and Community Reinsertion to serve as a platform for collecting and sharing humanitarian information and developing different information products. Its objective is to allow the humanitarian organizations and other stakeholders be able to easily see the whole spectrum of the humanitarian needs and operations undertaken in Timor-Leste. The centre is supported by IOM, UNDP and OCHA.

18. The Consolidated Flash Appeal for Timor Leste, launched on 12 June and totalling USD 19.6 million, has received USD 10,400,068 in contributions and commitments and additional USD 9,971,042 in pledges (FTS data, 19 July 2006). The main donors are Australia, Japan, New Zealand, the European Commission/ECHO, Ireland, Sweden, Norway, Canada, Italy, Germany and Singapore. Nevertheless, WHO is urging donors to support their request of 1.3 million USD to continue supporting coordination, epidemic preparedness, early warning and response, maternal health and the provision drugs and consumables. For detailed information on the status of funding of the Timor Leste Flash Appeal please see www.reliefweb.int/fts and select "Consolidated & Flash Appeals".

19. Special envoy of the European Commission to East Timor, Dr. Miguel Amado, has held meetings with representatives of international organizations to discuss how the EC can best support Timor Leste.

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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E-mail: ochagva@un.org

In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10

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

Press contact:
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