HELP IS ON HAND. BUT JUST A LITTLE OUT OF REACH!

PICTURE by Bishnu Pokrel, Water & Sanitation Project Officer, UNICEF Timor-Leste
Date: 290506
A brave smile despite the mounting difficulties of staying inside a camp for Internally Displaced People. Aid agencies and the UN agencies are desperately trying to reach out to the thousands in camps near and in Dili.


UNICEF's Press Release dated 29 may 2006.

HELP IS ON HAND. BUT JUST A LITTLE OUT OF REACH!
Deteriorating security situation prevents immediate relief reaching thousands who have sought refuge within camps in Dili


29th May, Dili - For nearly 50,000 people in 35 camps in the capital city of Dili, Timor-Leste, relief is still not in sight due to the deteriorating security situation. Nearly 20,000 of these were already living in camps having fled from their homes after the 28th April disturbances. The Inter-agency humanitarian assistance group set up last month and led by the Ministry of Labour and Community Reinsertion, comprising UNICEF among others, is prepared to move in with essential supplies to these camps. But this help is just a little bit out of reach for those who need it most.

Timorese residents of Dili - fearing attacks on their properties and themselves - have moved out of their homes into several overcrowded locations in and around Dili. Many people have left the capital for district areas, while others remain in Dili seeking safety and shelter in churches, schools, the airport, and many other locations. Children are exposed to physical and mental trauma and unsanitary living conditions in these camps, some of which house nearly 2000 persons against an original capacity of just 300 or so. At least on-third of this number are children below 14 years old.

UNICEF, as a critical member of the UN Inter-agency humanitarian assistance task force, is conducting assessments within camps, procuring essential supplies, briefing the national and international media and coordinating with the interagency group.

Bishnu Pokhrel, UNICEF WES officer conducted assessments on 28th May in two locations in Fatumeta and Bairo Pite, both of which are overburdened with people fleeing from their homes. These locations, like many others in Dili are fast running out of food and water supply. He confirmed that the conditions were unsanitary in these camps and it was only a matter of time before diseases began affecting these people.

UNICEF is specifically responsible for water and sanitation facilities to be beefed up within these camps, and also attend to the immediate protection of children from neglect and abuse and that children are given opportunities for being involved in activities to stimulate and engage them.

UNICEF has placed orders for basic family water kits, tarpaulin, water tanks, field water testing kits, squatting plates for latrines and school-in-a-box kits.

However, the unstable security situation has prevented access to some areas where there are people in need. If the security situation does not improve, it is possible that the humanitarian crisis could worsen significantly. As long as the situation is so fluid, it is difficult to move freely to distribute relief supplies.

“This causes greater stress on women and their children, who are now faced with no food, are exposed to unsafe water and unclean surroundings. This means that infants and children will be at risk of infections and over a long term, malnutrition”, said Ms.Shui-Meng Ng, UNICEF Representative.

UNICEF along with the Inter-Agency Humanitarian Assistance Group has been delivering assistance until 25th May, after people in Dili were displaced from their homes during the days following the 28th April disturbances. The Inter-Agency Humanitarian Assistance Group is comprised of the following agencies, led by the Ministry of Labour and Reinsertion, Government of Timor-Leste; WHO, UNICEF, IOM, UNDP, UNFPA, WFP, International Red Cross, Cruz Vermelha De Timor-Leste (National Red Cross), Oxfam Australia, Plan international, Health net, Red Cross and Care International, Catholic Relief Services, Caritas Australia.

For more information, contact:

Madhavi Ashok, Communication Officer
HP: +670 7231103
Email – mashok@unicef.org