OCHA Situation Report No. 5
Timor-Leste: Civil Unrest
21 August 2007


Summary Analysis

- 323 houses have been reported burnt and 52 damaged in Viqueque and 
Baucau districts.

- At least 4,000 persons are reportedly displaced at the moment in 
Viqueque and Baucau districts.

- Relief items from the Government of Timor-Leste have been delivered to 
the area and efforts are being undertaken to gain access to those 
displaced populations that are difficult to reach.

SITUATION

1. Civil unrest occurred in connection with the announcement of the new 
government on the 6th of August 2007 following the 30th of June 
parliamentary elections.

2. Viqueque and Baucau districts are most affected. The overall security 
situation in Timor-Leste is calm at the moment, while the situation 
remains tense in Viqueque district. United Nations Police Officers 
(UNPol) in conjunction with the national police of Timor-Leste (PNTL) 
and the International Stabilisation Force (ISF) remain fully deployed.

3. In Viqueque, around 270 houses had been burnt by violent groups. 
Several villages have been severly damaged in Watulari sub-district, 
while villages around Viqueque town have also been affected. The 
functioning of public transport and schools has been disrupted and food, 
water and medical supplies are becoming short on the market. Road travel 
within and between the districts of Baucau and Viqueque remains 
restricted at the moment due to security concerns especially after the 
ambush on a UN convoy on 10 August.

4. In Baucau district, 52 houses were destroyed in Venilale and Quelicai 
sub-districts. On 6 and 7 August, government, church, UN, and NGO 
facilities in Baucau district had been burnt or attacked. It is expected 
that schools and public transport will resume service in Baucau 
tomorrow.

Humanitarian Consequences

5. At least 4,000 persons are reportedly displaced at the moment in 
Viqueque and Baucau districts. The displaced stay in the mountains 
around the affected areas, and in convents, schools and compounds that 
are considered safe. 323 houses have been reported burnt and 52 damaged 
in Viqueque and Baucau districts.

6. Schools and shops are closed, public transport have been disrupted. 
Health services are functioning normally. Access to the facilities is 
believed to be hampered by security concerns.

HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE

7. On 12 August, 4.7mt tons of rice from the Government of Timor-Leste 
had been delivered by United Nations helicopters along with kitchen sets 
and noodles.

8. On 13 August, the Government of Timor-Leste sent a convoy of 15 
trucks carrying Government food and non-food relief items to Baucau and 
Viqueque districts. The humanitarian assistance was delivered to 
Watulari sub-district, Viqueque and Uatocarabau town in Viqueque 
district, and to Venilale in Baucau district. The accompanying civil 
servants of the Ministry of Social Solidarity concluded that in most of 
the locations more assistance was required, especially non-food items.

9. From 17-19 August a convoy with civil servants from various 
ministries delivered food and non-food items to Baucau and Quelicai and 
mosquito nets and urgently required medical supplies to Viqueque town. 
An assessment was undertaken at the same time and is expected to be 
released on 22 August.

10. Significant parts of the displaced population are reportedly 
scattered in forests and mountain areas, to which access is difficult. 
In order to gain access to these populations and provide assistance, an 
inter-agency assessment mission with United Nations helicopters to 
Watulari and Uatucarbau was scheduled to take place on Saturday, 18 
August 2007. As heavy rains had made the roads in the area impassable, 
the assessment mission had to be rescheduled to Thursday, 23 August.

11. OCHA is in close contact with the national and international 
humanitarian aid organizations, the Government, the UN Country Team and 
UNMIT 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.

For detailed information please contact:

OCHA Timor-Leste

Philippe Schneider
Mobile: +670 7311786
e-mail: philippe schneider/srsg/unmit@unmit

Florentina Debling
Mobile : +670 7321473
e-mail: humanitarian.ocha@undp.org


Desk Officers:

(NYC) Ms. Kirsten Gelsdorf
Tel. +1-917 367 2174
e-mail: gelsdorf@un.org

(GVA) Mr. Jean Verheyden
Tel: +41 22 917 1381


Press contact:

(NYC) Ms. Stephanie Bunker
Tel. +1-917 367 5126

(GVA) Ms. Elizabeth Byrs
Tel. +41-22-917 2653

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