OCHA Situation Report No. 2
Timor-Leste - Population Displacement
31 May 2006


This report is based on information received from the United Nations 
Office in Timor-Leste (UNOTIL), the OCHA Regional Office in Bangkok, and 
the Dili offices of IOM, Oxfam, World Vision International and Care 
International.

SITUATION

1. While the overall level of violence in Dili has decreased since the 
deployment of Australian-led military forces (25-26 May), looting and 
arson continued in Dili on 29/30 May.  According to reports from media 
and NGOs, Dili shops were being ransacked for food and other valuables. 
UNOTIL reports the looting of two government food warehouses as well as 
the burning of Bocora Convent which had been sheltering IDPs. Media 
reports also include the looting of the Attorney General's Office.

2. Following inter-agency assessments that took place 29-30 May, UNOTIL 
has revised upwards its estimates of the number of IDPs in Timor-Leste 
to approximately 100,000 people (up from 60,000 reported on 29 May). 
This number includes 65,000 persons displaced in Dili (up from 25,000 
reported on 29 May), out of the original population of approximately 
150,000. The number of displaced may be higher as displacement continues 
in Dili the movements of humanitarian agencies are constrained by the 
security situation.

3. Four teams of UN Agency and NGO staff undertook a rapid assessment of 
IDP concentrations in Dili on 29-30 May, focusing predominantly on the 
key sectors of food, health, water/sanitation and shelter/NFIs. 
Preliminary results of the assessments are being compiled and are 
expected to be made available by 1 June.  The results of this assessment 
will feed into a humanitarian appeal expected in the coming days.

4. Reports of attacks on IDPs at the locations where they are sheltering 
are being received from IOM, UNOTIL and the media.  There is concern 
that conditions in camps are worsening due to overcrowding and rain and 
that growing tensions within the camps may lead to violence. 
Negotiations are underway at many locations to put in place measures to 
enhance security in and around the camps.

5. Operational coordination is being ensured through daily meetings of 
the Humanitarian Action Group in Obrigado Barracks (UN Compound). A 
meeting of the Humanitarian Action Group also took place on 29 May in 
the premises of the Ministry of Labor, Social Welfare and Reintegration.

6. Insecurity still impacts humanitarian operations, with only essential 
movement permitted in Dili and most of the humanitarian staff confined 
to their offices or residences.

ASSISTANCE REQUIRED

7. Preliminary results of the inter-agency assessment are expected to be 
available on 1 June and will feed into a humanitarian flash appeal in 
the coming days.  Key sectors of focus are food, health, 
water/sanitation and shelter/NFIs.

8. WFP reports it has enough food rations for 30,000 people for 5 days, 
as well as a sizeable supply of High Protein Biscuits, although more 
food might be required in few days' time.  The Australian Forces are 
currently providing security at WFP warehouses.

NATIONAL RESPONSE

9. The Ministry of Labour distributed 12-15 MT of rice to various 
locations in Dili on 29 May and an additional 20 MT on 30 May with IOM 
transportation and security support.

INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE

10. Food distribution resumed to some IDP camps in Dili on 29 May, 
facilitated by UN Agencies and NGOs.

12. Oxfam, IOM and the Red Cross provided 80-90,000 litres of safe water 
to at least 38,000 IDPs in Dili on 29 and 30 May.

13. WVI is providing support to two IDP camps in Dili at the Don Bosco 
school in Comoro and the Canossian convent in Balide. There are an 
estimated 13,000 IDPs at each camp. WVI provided two initial truckloads 
of relief assistance to the camps on 28 May, including food and shelter 
items.

14. CARE will meet with partners on 31 May to determine how to safely 
distribute 29 MT of supplementary food stock.

15. The Australian Government, through AusAid, has made available USD 3 
million for provision of assistance to the IDPs in Timor-Leste

16. OCHA's Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific in Bangkok will 
deploy a team to Dili to support civil military and humanitarian 
coordination, following the request for assistance from UNOTIL Special 
Representative of the Secretary General.  The first member of the OCHA 
team will arrive in Dili on 1 June.

17. OCHA is in close contact with the Office of the SRSG 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. Megan Gilgan (in GVA) direct Tel. +41-22-917 1558
  Mr. Wojtek Wilk (in NY) direct Tel. +1-917-367-9748

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

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