OCHA Situation Report No. 9
Timor-Leste - Population Displacement
27 June 2006


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. Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri resigned from his post on 26 June after 
a tumultuous week. President Xanana Gusmao had threatened to resign if 
the Prime Minister did not. The Prime Minister's resignation followed 
the resignation of Foreign Minister Jose Ramos Horta on 25 June, who is 
now a front-runner to replace Alkatiri as PM.

2. Dili is relatively quiet. Thousands of protesters have been arriving 
by trucks in Dili since 20 June to demand the Prime Minister's 
resignation. Protesters gathered outside government buildings and 
traveled through the city on trucks, chanting slogans and carrying 
banners. The security situation was heightened when thousands of 
pro-Alkatiri supporters began arriving in the city. The Joint Task Force 
- composed of Australian, New Zealand and Malaysian troops, supported by 
Australian and Portuguese police - has maintained a strong presence and 
the two groups have so far been prevented from clashing.

3. The latest figures collected from the IDP camps in Dili show an 
increase of some 2,900 (as of 26 June) to 72,390 IDPs living at 66 
locations. The five largest IDP camps in Dili are Dom Bosco (Comoro) 
with 14,150; Obrigado Barracks parking lot (UNOTIL Compound) with 6,422; 
Comoro airport with 5,500; Hospital Nacional G. Valadares (Toku Baru) 
with 5,318; and Salaun Igreja Principal (Becora) with 3,620. Unconfirmed 
reports suggest that some demonstrators arriving from the districts 
might be accommodated in the camps.

4. The Ministry of State Administration estimates that there are 78,984 
IDPs in the 12 districts outside Dili, particularly in Baucau (25,776), 
Viqueque (8,205), Liquica (7,942), Lautem (5,841) and Aileu (5,816) 
districts.

5. The Rapid Joint Assessment of IDPs in districts outside Dili 
commenced on 26 June. The assessments will take place over the course of 
the week and analysis of the data will begin on the weekend. The 
assessment aims to assess the impact of the IDP influx on host 
communities in the districts and provide more accurate IDP figures and 
information in the following sectors: protection, education, food 
security, health, non food items/shelter, water. More in-depth analysis 
by specialist agencies will follow. INGOs and UN agencies (Concern, CRS, 
Oxfam, Plan, WFP, UNICEF and World Vision) are working closely with 
district administrations in each district capital.

6. The Humanitarian Coordination Group continues meeting every other day 
under the chairmanship of the Ministry of Labour and Community 
Reinsertion and brings together government, UN agencies and 
national/international NGOs staff. Sectoral working groups meet 
regularly to coordinate food, health, information/assessment, 
protection, shelter, watsan and district-based activities.

7. UNFPA, Concern, Care, CVTL, HAI, ICRC, Plan, CRS, Caritas Australia, 
and Austcare act as SLS (site liaison/support) for the IDP camps, 
liaising with the sector working groups to arrange assistance for camps 
in Dili.

8. The RC/HC and representatives of the humanitarian community including 
the government visited local authorities in three districts (Aileu, 
Bobonaro and Covalima) on 22 June. IDPs were found to be living mainly 
with host families - the sudden population increase has led to 
widespread food shortages. Although food is available in local markets, 
loss of income means that people cannot pay. Local government services 
(health, education, law and order) have been disrupted in some areas, 
but continue largely as normal. The security situation in the districts 
is reportedly calm and the national police (PNTL) continue their 
activities.

9.The multi-disciplinary needs assessment mission led by Ian Martin, 
Special Envoy of the UN SG to Timor-Leste, arrived in Dili on 26 June 
and started to consult widely. The mission will remain in Timor-Leste 
until 9 July to prepare recommendations on future UN assistance.

RESPONSE

10. The distribution of food to IDP camps in Dili continues this week. 
IOM delivered 186 MT of Government rice to IDPs at camps in Dili and 47 
MT to Ermera and Liquica districts between 21 and 26 June. WFP 
distributed 54 MT of supplementary food items (including blended food, 
oil and sugar) to Dili IDP camps and 97 MT to Ermera and Manatutu 
districts between 19 and 26 June. The Ministry of Labour and Community 
Reinsertion (MTRC) distributed rice and non-food items to Baucau and 
Oecussi districts as well as Atauro sub-district between 19 and 24 June.

11. Measles vaccination and vitamin A supplementation campaigns 
organized by UNICEF resumed on 26 June after being halted the previous 
week due to security concerns caused by the political crisis. More than 
12,000 children have been vaccinated at 40 IDP camps so far. After 
covering IDP camps in Dili, the campaign is now expected to be extended 
to schools.

12. A task force composed of UNHCR, IOM and organizations supporting the 
IDP camps will make a proposal for the formal registration of IDPs on 27 
June. The proposal will have to be approved upon by the Ministry of 
Labour and Community Reintegration before the process is started.

13. The nutrition working group, which includes the Ministry of Health, 
UNICEF and WFP, will carry out a nutritional survey at IDP camps in Dili 
this week. The survey, including screening for severely malnourished 
children, will enable the better targeting of supplementary feeding 
during the emergency phase.

14. All IDP camps in and around Dili have now been provided with notice 
boards to provide residents with a reliable source of information. 
Information posted over the past three weeks has included advisories on 
sanitation, health, child protection, ante-natal health/breastfeeding 
and the latest IDP figures.

15. A working group has been established to address the problem of 
Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in IDP camps. UNFPA is working with NGO Rede 
Feto to conduct a week-long needs assessment at IDP camps in Dili, with 
a view to providing medical, counseling, legal and other support 
services.

16. 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.

Tel.:  +41-22-917 12 34
Fax: +41-22-917 0023
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

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

Desk Officer:
  Ms. Ute Kollies - Tel. +41-22-917-3173
  Ms. Natasha Kindergan (in NY) Tel. +1-917-367-9748

Press contact:
  GVA - Ms. Elizabeth Byrs - Tel. +41-22-917 2653
  NYC - Ms. Stephanie Bunker - Tel. + 1-917 367 5126

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