Action by Churches Together (ACT) Update * No. 1/99 Timor Crisis Geneva, 29 September, 1999
ACT member, Gereja Masehi Injili di Timor (GMIT), initiated an assistance program in the month of May for refugees from E Timor seeking shelter in Belu Regency as well as for E Timor students residing in Kupang, whose lives were under threat. (Refer ACT Appeal ASID91, dt. 5 May 1999). Since then, the tragedy has assumed grave proportions with tens of thousands fleeing E Timor in the wake of violence and terror unleashed by the militia opposed to the territory*s independence. GMIT has continued assisting people through the crisis and now proposes to expand its operations to address the huge needs that have emerged in these past few weeks. During the week of 20 * 26 September, when GMIT held its General Synod, part of the discussions centered on the need to develop a church-wide strategy that could make the work more effective. As the refugees* lives are believed to be in danger in the camps, GMIT has been active in finding safe housing for the refugees. Getting as many families as possible out of the camps is currently a major thrust area. In the meantime, congregations which have been intensely engaged in helping refugees, are quickly depleting their resources and need urgent help. The ACT office responded with US $ 50,000 from its Rapid Response Fund and will shortly issue an Appeal to enable GMIT to extend its operations in Kupang and Atambua. The Appeal is expected to have a target amount of around US $ 400,000 for provision of food, shelter, medicines, agriculture inputs, transport for re-location and other items. The ACT office has also received a request from the Protestant Christian Batak Church (HKBP) in Indonesia which proposes to send a team to E Timor, to help people who are still hiding in the mountains. The Youth Wing of the Council of Churches Indonesia (PGI) has requested assistance for refugees who fled E Timor and took shelter in Jakarta, Bandung and other locations. Unfortunately, these locations have also become highly dangerous and many refugees now live in constant fear of their lives. Some donors have also informed this office of having received requests for assistance from their local partners in W Timor. In light of the immense needs and the importance for ACT to respond in a cohesive and co-ordinated manner, an in-house meeting was convened by this office on 22 September to discuss and strategise in terms of how and what more can be done in the immediate and near future. Discussions covered the issue of preparing the ground for a potentially large ACT intervention in both W and E Timor in the coming weeks. The meeting recognized that GMIT*s capacity for managing and co-ordinating, is currently stretched to the limits and needs strengthening. In E Timor, where the people, especially the church leaders have been subjected to unimaginable suffering and trauma, and where the situation continues to be desperate, the need for a strong ACT presence was strongly recommended. Consequently, as a logical next step, the ACT C O was asked to initiate a process to identify network personnel, preferably from the region, with requisite skills and qualities to work in close consultation with immediate ACT members and others in the region. A proposal outlining the profile of the person(s) required, as well as the Terms of Reference for the assignment has since been circulated to the concerned ACT members in the region, a copy of which can be made available to other interested ACT members. Thank you for your attention. For further information please contact: ACT Co-ordinator, Miriam Lutz (phone ++41 22 791 6033 or mobile phone ++ 41 79 203 6055) or ACT Appeals Officer, Neville Pradhan (phone +41 22 791 6035 or mobile phone ++41 79 285 2916) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Action by Churches Together (ACT) is a worldwide network of churches and their related agencies, meeting human need through co-ordinated emergency response. The ACT Coordinating Office is based with the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Switzerland. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Ecumenical Centre Phone: ++41-22-791.60.33 150, route de Ferney Fax: ++41-22-791.65.06 1211 Geneva 2 Telex: 415 730 OIK CH Switzerland http://www.act-intl.org distributed by - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Volunteers in Technical Assistance Disaster Information Center lists: www.vita.org/listsub.htm sitreps nat-dsr web: www.vita.org appeal fireline - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -