OCHA Situation Report No. 1
East Timor: Floods
26 June 2001


Situation

1.  Last week, three days of heavy rain led to flooding in inhabited areas
of Los Palos in Lautem District (Population: 55,000), in the east of East
Timor.  The worst affected area is the town of Los Palos, the District
capital (Population: 7,000).  It has been reported that Iliomar, Leoro and
Mehara have also been affected, but to a lesser extent and may not require
humanitarian assistance.

2.  The District administration reported on 25 June 2001 that around 100
families are in need of assistance, including 68 families whose houses
have been damaged. One person was reportedly killed. Floodwaters have
receded in Los Palos town.

3.  Difficult access to the affected areas is posing a significant
problem, in particular to Los Palos town and in coastal areas.  Los Palos
town can only be reached by air, as the access road at Sika Village has
been cut off.  Peace Keeping Forces (PKF) engineers have assessed the
major road access problem and are planning both emergency and longer-term
repairs.

4.  Most immediate emergency needs for food, potable water, blankets,
cooking equipment, shelter materials and sanitation facilities have been
met.


National and International Response

5.  District authorities are coordinating the relief efforts in the field
with 120 people, with some external support in the way of resources and
expertise.

6.  The National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) of the East Timor
Transitional Administration (ETTA) has been monitoring the situation since
20 June.  The National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) was activated on
20 June and is now assisting with on-site assessments and with the
coordination of emergency relief in the district.

7.  While no appeal for assistance to the wider international community
has been made, ETTA has requested UNHCR, WFP and UNICEF to provide
emergency relief.  Relief items have been transported on WFP trucks to
Baucau town and from there the NEOC has organized air delivery of the
following items to Los Palos town (with support from PKF):

    - food for 900 people for 7 days (WFP);
    - 30 tents (UNHCR);
    - 150 sleeping mats (UNHCR);
    - 200 water containers (UNICEF);
    - 3 bundles of quilts (UNHCR);
    - water piping for emergency repairs of the water reticulation
      system.


8.  Civilian Police (CivPol) and PKF are assisting in Los Palos wherever
possible. In addition, PKF distributed some food rations during the first
48 hours of the floods.

9.  At the request of ETTA, OCHA has decided to provide an emergency grant
of US$ 20,000 for the purchase of relief items and to cover transportation
costs.

10.  OCHA is in close contact with UNDP East Timor and the NDMO in Dili,
and will revert with further information if it becomes available.

11.  This situation report, together with further information on ongoing
emergencies, is also available on the OCHA Internet website at
http://www.reliefweb.int


Telephone: +41-22-91712 34
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

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

Desk Officers:
  Mr. F. Gentiloni / Mr. R. Mueller / Mr. S. Matsuka / Mr. K. Quiding
  Direct Tel. +41-22-917 3512 / 3131 / 4034 / 1769

Press contact:
  (GVA)  Ms. M. Moulin-Acedo, direct Tel. +41-22-917 26 53
  (NYC)  Ms. Phyllis Lee, direct Tel. +1-212-963 48 32


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