OCHA Situation Report
Timor-Leste
8 - 20 December 2007


Source:
UN Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs


THIS WEEK'S HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE IN A SNAPSHOT

1. Food distribution: The December distribution cycle is ongoing for a
planned number of 64,200 beneficiaries.

Source: WFP

2. Tent replacement: As of 18 December, 1721 new tents have been 
distributed to replace old ones in 25 camps in Dili.

3. Transitional Shelters:

As of 15 December :

- 432 transitional shelters have been built by the Norwegian Refugee 
Council (NRC) and funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

- 72 transitional shelters have been built by the Ministry of Public 
Works.

- Total number of built transitional shelter in country to 504.

Source: NRC

4. On going assistance in Covalima District where over 6,000 households 
have been affected by flash floods, landslides and locust infestation.

NATIONAL HOSPITAL IDP CAMP

In order to solve the major public health issue posed by the IDP camp 
located in the premises of the National Hospital in Dili, the Government 
has identified Becora Market as an alternative site to relocate the 
IDPs. A meeting took place at the Hospital IDP Camp on Friday 14 
December with, among others, the Minister of Social Solidarity, the 
Minister of Health, the Director of the Hospital, PNTL, F-FDTL, 
representatives of the international humanitarian community, the camp 
manager and IDPs to socialize the proposal (see picture above).
- Dialogue is still ongoing. -

HIGHLIGHT ON THE FOOD SECURITY SITUATION IN THE WESTERN DISTRICTS

As a result of the locust infestation earlier this year as well as the 
mid-June floods, the food security situation in Covalima has become 
critical. In addition, a recent migration of adult locust originating 
from West Timor has caused hesitation amongst farmers to plant maize and 
rice for the next planting season. Spraying to control the infestations 
has been undertaken and according to FAO reports the situation is under 
control. The flood-affected population is in urgent need of food 
assistance especially during the months of January to March 2008, before 
the next harvest season, as the current food stocks of the affected 
population will last one month only. A recent WFP assessment in Covalima 
in November 2007 found that 6,718 households, i.e. 30,000 to 35,000 
persons were affected by floods, landslides and locusts, of which around 
90% are farmers. Most households have started to consume seeds to cope 
with the current food shortage situation and will therefore also need 
seed distributions for this year's planting season. Humanitarian 
assistance to certain areas in the sub-districts of Zumalai, Tilomar, 
and Maucatar (Matai) will need to be delivered before roads may become 
impassable with the rainy season.

Attachments:
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/retrieveattachments?openagent&docid=C94FC8284507BEB9C12573BE003A6680&file=Full_Report.pdf


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