OCHA Situation Report No. 6
Timor-Leste - Population Displacement
9 June 2006


This report is based on information received from the United Nations
Office in Timor-Leste (UNOTIL), UN Agencies and OCHA staff in Dili and
media sources.

SITUATION

1. In Dili, looting and arson have significantly decreased in the past
days with an increase in patrolling of International Security Forces.
Increasing security in Dili has allowed almost complete freedom of
movement for humanitarian agencies within the city.  Access by
humanitarian actors to the districts outside of Dili has also increased
substantially.

2.  1,900 Australian forces ground troops have been deployed in Dili
since 25 May as well as 106 Australian Federal Police.  More than 330
Malaysian troops, 160 New Zealand forces and 120 Portuguese police are
in place. The deployment of additional police is being considered by
Malaysia and New Zealand.

3.  According to data drawn from inter-agency assessments conducted
between 29 May and 1 June, and compiled by IOM, 71,300 IDPs are living
at 65 locations in Dili. The five largest IDP locations in Dili are
Cannossiana Sisters (Balide) with 13,060; Dom Bosco (Comoro) with
13,000; Has Laran Canossa School with 6,000; Obrigado Barraks (UN
Compound) with 4,500; and Fatumeta Seminario Maior with 4,064.

4.  UNOTIL estimates an additional 60 to 70 camps housing between 35,000
and 40,000 people are scattered throughout the country, in particular in
the districts of Liquica, Ermera, Aileu, Oecussi, Baucau, as well as in
the sub-district of Atauro.

5.  In spite of the unrest, WHO assesses that the overall health system
in Timor-Leste is performing well with most hospitals and health
facilities fully functional.  The major health concern is acute
respiratory infection. Lack of shelter and the relatively low overnight
temperatures have led to an increase in such infections in 55% of the
population of IDP camps.

6.  The Humanitarian Action Group, including UN agencies and national
and international NGOs, continues to meet daily under the chairmanship
of the Ministry of Labor, Social Welfare and Reintegration.

  ASSISTANCE REQUIRED

7.  Priority areas determined by the Humanitarian Action Group as a
result of ongoing assessments are:  protection, food, water and
sanitation, health and shelter.  UN agencies are compiling a Flash
Appeal which is expected to be launched early in the week of 12 June.

NATIONAL RESPONSE

8.  The Timorese Government is undertaking daily distribution of rice
and water to IDPs.

9.  To ameliorate living conditions, the Government, with the support of
UNHCR and others, is planning to establish planned camps where IDPS can
live in better condition and receive more timely assistance, until they
are able to return home when security improves.

INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE

10.  On 7 June, a total of 76.8 MT of food were distributed to IDP camps
in Dili from Government and WFP stocks.  Transport was provided by Plan
International, CARE International, World Vision International and IOM.
IOM also delivered 4 MT of food to Liquica district at the request of
the Government. The district of Dibar was also reached with food
distribution.

11.  143,000 litres of water were provided to IDP camps in Dili on 7
June, up from 113,000 litres delivered on 5 June.  UNICEF also took
delivery of family water kits for 2,500 families.  OXFAM undertook the
distribution of jerry cans (1,154) and CRS distributed hygiene kits
(1,220) and mosquito nets (3,112) to IDP locations in Dili.

12.  An inter-agency Health Promotion Group, led by UNICEF, has begun
hygiene education work in the IDP camps.  UNFPA, UNICEF and WFP plan to
implement antenatal services to all camps beginning on 6 June.
Screening of young children for malnutrition will also be undertaken.
A mass measles vaccination for children from 6 months to 14 years of age
and provision of Vitamin A supplementation for children from 6-9 months
will commence on 12 June. UNICEF is working with the Ministry of Health
on this campaign and has already assigned 2 people in each camp who will
carry out the vaccinations. IDPs will be targeted in the first week of
the campaign, with residents of areas surrounding the camps targeted in
the second week.

13.  The Working Group on Child Protection is continuing to support the
establishment of child protection focal points in all the major camps.
Amongst others, focal points will be given a simple record sheet to
identify unaccompanied or separated children. The Working Group which
includes ICRC, PLAN International and UNICEF will be able to conduct
further registration and attempts to trace children and their families
based on this initial information collected. Plans for psycho-social
support and safe space for children in camps are underway.

14.  The Communication Working Group has set up notice boards 57
locations in 53 camps in Dili. Work is ongoing to identify communication
volunteers in these camps. UNICEF will continue supporting the group
through providing logistics and vehicle support, combined assessments
and training for communication volunteers. The national daily newspaper,
Suara Timor Loro'sae, has restarted circulation and UNICEF is discussing
greater coverage of women's and children's issues with the paper's
editor-in-chief.

15.  Tents, plastic sheeting, and non-food items for up to 30,000 people
provided by UNHCR began to arrive in Dili on 8 June.  By the end of the
week supplies for 5,000 people are expected to have arrived with the
remaining shipments following early next week.

16.  ICRC has deployed 9 additional staff to support the work of the
local Red Cross society.  The ICRC and the Timor-Leste Red Cross are
facilitating water distribution at the Comoro pumping station.  Over
200,000 litres of water are being provided daily to various humanitarian
organizations.  The ICRC is also distributing food, mosquito nets and
tarpaulins to displaced families.

17.  Under an existing agreement with the Timor-Leste authorities, ICRC
delegates have begun visiting detainees and Becora prison in Dili.
Notices of the Red Cross tracing services have also been posted in the
IDP camps in Dili and the Red Cross has responded to 40 requests
concerning missing relatives.

18.  The Australian Government, through AusAid, has provided an
additional 1 million Australian dollars to WFP for urgent food
distribution.  This funding is in addition to the 3 million Australian
dollars that was already provided for assistance to IDPs in Timor-Leste.

19.  New Zealand has also announced that it will provide 1.5 million New
Zealand dollars in support of humanitarian assistance to Timor-Leste.

20.  OCHA is in close contact with the Office of the SRSG UNOTIL and UN
Country Team 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:
  Mr. Guido Galli  (in GVA), direct Tel. +41-22-917-3171
  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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