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In Brief
Period covered: April - June 2006
Appeal coverage: fully covered
Appeal history:
- Emergency Appeal launched on 23 February 2006 for CHF 569,685 (USD 431,253 or EUR 364,016) to assist some 8,400 beneficiaries for six months.
- CHF 200,000 has been allocated from the Disaster Relief Emergency Funds (DREF)
- The Federation requests that the appeal programme be extended by three months until 23 November 2006 because of delays stemming from factors such as instability within the country.
Related Appeals:
Timor-Leste Appeal 2006-2007 (MAATP001); Southeast Asia Appeal 2006-2007 (MAA51001)
Operation Summary: The response to the Emergency Appeal has been excellent. Cruz Vermelha De Timor- Leste (Timor-Leste Red Cross or CVTL) has assisted thousands of those affected by the storms and floods. However, recent and ongoing instability has caused significant delays in aspects of the operation. The national society's few resources have been stretched and indeed diverted to provide support to the tens of thousands displaced by the violence. The operation has also been hit by poor weather, difficulties in reaching communities and lack of resources in local markets. As such, the many partners supporting CVTL are requested to agree to a three-month extension to the storms and floods programme. Despite the difficulties, CVTL continues to demonstrate its effectiveness as a humanitarian organization. It is also proving itself a reliable partner of both governments and vulnerable communities. The Federation's delegation in Timor-Leste continues to support the ongoing emergence of CVTL.
Background
A series of storms and flooding from late December 2005 through January 2006 affected some 8,400 people in Timor-Leste, resulting in severe losses of livelihood and shelters. Since then, CVTL (Cruz Vermelha de Timor- Leste or Timor-Leste Red Cross) has been at the forefront of efforts to help thousands of those affected. A sixmonth operation focusing on the provision of safe drinking water, the rebuilding of shelter, livelihoods and capacity building of the national society was developed after a thorough assessment of the disaster area.
Operational developments
The six-month plan of action in response to the storms and floods is progressing well thanks to a huge effort from CVTL. Excellent support from international partners has enabled assistance to affected districts. 280 families who lost their houses have received building materials with design instructions. CVTL volunteers have also demonstrated how to erect the shelters. The enclave communities of Oe-cusse were badly affected by flooding and well contamination. They have received materials to build seven deep wells at a new location considered safe from future flooding.
The initial emergency phase was implemented accordingly. All required relief items were procured and the majority has been delivered to designated locations. However, because of very wet weather in March and April, delivery to hill villages was held up. There were further delays because of the unrest in Timor-Leste since April. The severe instability has seen shooting, burning, looting and infighting in the army and the police. International peace keepers from the Australian, New Zealand, Malaysian and Portuguese army arrived in May. The unrest caused the CVTL to shift its focus from this operation to attend the thousands of internally displaced people (IDP) fleeing their homes to safe camps. Most shops and suppliers of relief materials closed down. Presently, there are 78,000 IDPs in Dili and another 70,000 in the regions. Despite the difficulties, CVTL, with the support of the Federation country delegation in Timor-Leste, is committed to deliver planned support to designated beneficiaries. As security improves, programmes will again pick up momentum. Because of the delays in implementation due to the instability, partners are requested to agree to a three-month extension to the operation. Progress on the ground has been variable between districts. More activities have been carried out in Ainaro and Baucau compared with Bobonaro and Viqueue.
For further information specifically related to this operation please contact:
Cruz Vermelha de Timor-Leste (Timor-Leste Red Cross): Ms. Isabel Amaral Guterres (secretary-general); email: sec-gen@cvtl.tp; Phone: +67.07.24.8963; Fax: +67.03.32.1688
Federation delegation in Timor-Leste: Warwick Inder(head of delegation); email: warwick.inder@ifrc.org; Phone: +67.07.23.1434; Fax: +67.03.32.2010
Federation regional delegation in Bangkok: Bekele Geleta (head of regional delegation); email: bekele.geleta@ifrc.org; Phone: +66.2.640.8211; Fax: +66.2.640.8220
Federation Secretariat in Geneva: Gert Venghaus (regional officer, Asia Pacific department); email: gert.venghaus@ifrc.org; Phone: +41.22.730.4258; Fax: +41.22.733.0395 orSabine Feuglet (regional officer, Asia Pacific department); email: sabine.feuglet@ifrc.org; Phone: +41.22.730.4349; Fax: +41.22.733.0395
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