U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT BUREAU FOR HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE (BHR) OFFICE OF U.S. FOREIGN DISASTER ASSISTANCE (OFDA) INDONESIA - Complex Emergency Fact Sheet # 9, FY1999 September 30, 1999
Overview - Following an overwhelming UN-supported vote for independence from Indonesia, pro-integrationist militias in East Timor rampaged and plundered through several cities and towns in early September. Thousands of civilians were killed in the ensuing violence. There was widespread destruction of homes and private assets on the island, including UN and NGO offices and equipment. - More than 350,000 East Timorese were displaced from their homes due to the violence, including 200,000 IDPs who fled to the surrounding hills and jungles of East Timor. As of September 28, the Government of Indonesia (GOI) has registered 244,310 IDPs in 37 camps at eleven locations in West Timor and nearby islands. (These figures may be inflated due to double registration; UN and NGO estimates range between 100,000 and 150,000.) The GOI estimates 128,927 IDPs are located in and around the border town of Atambua. - UNHCR has identified the provision of food and shelter as the main humanitarian priorities in East Timor. IDPs will need protection from the rains that are expected to begin in October. - Humanitarian agencies are also concerned about the possibility of a malaria outbreak in East Timor during the approaching rainy season. Additional health problems include diarrhea and respiratory infections. Lack of medical supplies and personnel presents a serious concern. - According to the UN, the main IDP camps in Atambua, Kupang, Belu, and Timor Tengah Utara are overpopulated and lack food, medicine, and water supplies. Pro-integrationist militias control many of the camps. Access to the camps is limited to non-western staff of international NGOs, hampering efforts to assess humanitarian conditions. UNHCR reports that militias are preventing IDPs from returning home. - The UN World Food Program (WFP) estimates that 740,000 East Timorese, out of a total population of 890,000, will require food aid in the next six months. Of this number, 590,000 people (490,000 IDPs and 100,000 expected returnees) will require full rations, while an additional 150,000 IDPs will require half rations. - On September 28, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) issued a special alert on the food situation in East Timor. The alert indicated that as many as 80% of the population in East Timor (720,000 people) will require food assistance for an undetermined period. According to the alert, logistical and security constraints have impeded ongoing efforts to assist East Timorese IDPs. - In the short-term, the agriculture and food production outlook in East Timor is bleak due to the scale of destruction and displacement, FAO reports. The outcome of the main planting season, which is expected to begin in the next few weeks, is expected to be poor. At present, the food situation in West Timor is not considered as desperate as that in East Timor. - Although the UN-authorized International Force for East Timor (INTERFET) is gaining more access and control outside the East Timor capital of Dili, the overall security situation in East Timor is tenuous due to continued looting and destruction of buildings. The security situation also remains extremely tense in West Timor, due to a large militia presence. According to press sources, the towns of Bellabo and Bellagada along the western border of East Timor were torched recently. Reports of torchings and killings also continue in and around Dili. A CARE warehouse in Dili was looted recently. - UN officials report that as many as 70,000 IDPs may have returned to Dili during the past two days. 30,000 more IDPs may arrive in the future. The IDPs are returning in an orderly manner, appear to be in good condition, and are receiving adequate humanitarian assistance. Most IDPs lack personal belongings, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Teams from Medecins sans Frontieres (MSF), Medecins du Monde (MDM), and a Portuguese health group have established three stations in Dili to medically screen IDPs as they return to Dili. The teams are also providing some food and non-food assistance to the IDPs. - In a joint operation, WFP and ICRC will soon begin distributing additional relief assistance to approximately 100,000 returning IDPs over the next five days. A local church network will also distribute emergency food to the IDPs. - To date, about 4,500 out of a total contingent of 7,500 INTERFET troops have arrived in East Timor to restore peace and security and to assist with humanitarian relief efforts. - In the past week, at least seven people were killed, over 40 injured and numerous more arrested by GOI forces during protests in Jakarta, according to press sources. USG Assistance - Based on recommendations of a USAID/OFDA assessment team in early September, the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) donated a total of 300,000 humanitarian daily rations, or HDRs, to meet immediate needs in East Timor. The rations, valued at $1,275,000, were dispatched to Darwin, Australia, via USAID/OFDA-funded commercial aircraft. USAID/OFDA contributed $1.4 million to support the transport of the rations. - In addition, USAID/OFDA has dispatched 500 rolls of plastic sheeting, 20,000 blankets, and 5,200 collapsible 5-gallon water containers. These items arrived in Darwin on September 22 and will be distributed by the UN via helicopter to some 25,000 people. The value of this assistance, including transport, is estimated at $222,950. - A USAID/OFDA grant to an Indonesian NGO (Yayasan Dian Desa) is supporting water/sanitation activities to assist IDPs at four sites along the West Timor border. USAID/OFDA initiated this grant in July 1999 at a cost of $165,800, in anticipation of an IDP influx. - In addition, USAID/OFDA is providing $1 million to WFP for logistics and transport operations. The USAID/OFDA assessment team in Jakarta and the USAID/Jakarta Mission are currently reviewing NGO proposals valued at $3 - 5 million to assist with the delivery of food, shelter, medical assistance, water, sanitation, mosquito nets, and seeds and tools to IDPs in East and West Timor. - USAID/Office of Food for Peace (FFP) has authorized the provision of 4,000 MT of corn and 5,900 MT of rice, valued at $5 million, to WFP for refugees and IDPs affected by the fighting in East Timor. These commodities are sufficient to provide the basic grain (carbohydrate) component needed to feed 360,000 people for two months. - USAID/FFP has contributed 6,700 MT of Title II rice and kidney beans, valued at $4.2 million, to CARE for East Timor. USAID/FFP also anticipates a substantial contribution to a second WFP emergency operation. This six-month program, currently in the planning stage, aims to provide food assistance to 500,000 people. - USAID/FFP is providing 1,200 MT of rice, valued at $769,000 through Catholic Relief Services (CRS) for IDPs in West Timor. In addition, USAID/FFP is currently supporting ongoing programs in Indonesia through CRS, CARE, Church World Services, Mercy Corps International, World Vision International (WVI), and WFP. Current food stocks of Title II partners in Indonesia are estimated at more than 8,000 MT, including 1,200 - 1,500 MT in East and West Timor. Title II commodities in cooperating sponsor pipelines amount to more than 29,000 MT. - Moreover, USAID/Jakarta's Office of Population, Health, and Nutrition (PHN) is planning to provide $568,924 to expand and extend an existing grant with WVI for a food security and health initiative in East Timor. USAID/PHN is also providing $600,000 under an existing grant with the National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA) and the Indonesian Enterprise and Trade Development Project (IETDP) for a health initiative in East Timor. The USAID/Jakarta mission has provided $5,870 to Project Concern International for a health assessment in West Timor. - USAID/Jakarta's FFP office has contributed $127,000 for the transportation and distribution of Title II commodities in East Timor. The USAID office, working through the (NCBA), is also supporting income-generation activities primarily through coffee production. NCBA has already submitted a proposal to develop small- and medium-scale agricultural projects in the private sector. - USAID/Jakarta is also working with the USAID/Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI) on an extension of support to the Carter Center for reporting on and planning for conflict resolution and reconciliation work. In addition, the mission is considering proposals in the area of conflict resolution and confidence-building activities. - Additionally, USAID/Jakarta is considering rapid delivery of corn (or wheat) and Soya-blended foods for vulnerable populations. Food security activities (such as seeds and tools and community gardening) are also under consideration to reduce the impact of continued displacement on the farming cycle. - The US State Department's Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) is providing $5.1 million to UNHCR, ICRC, WFP, and UN OCHA to assist organizations in meeting the needs of IDPs. Of the State/PRM assistance, UNHCR will receive $2.6 million, $1 million will be provided to WFP, and $500,000 to UN OCHA. - In addition to donating 300,000 humanitarian daily rations, DOD is assisting INTERFET in intelligence gathering, communications, logistics, coordination, and airlift capability. A small contingent of U.S. Marines is providing logistical assistance in Darwin, the base of relief operations in East Timor. - In addition, 14 civil affairs personnel from Fort Bragg will assist INTERFET in establishing a Civil Military Operations Center (CMOC) in Dili. The DOD office in Jakarta has supplied navigational maps to WFP to assist in the airdrop operation. - From September 29 - 30, US Defense Department Secretary William Cohen visited Darwin and Jakarta, where he strongly urged GOI officials to allow refugees in West Timor to return home safely to East Timor. Secretary Cohen also held meetings with representatives from the Australian and New Zealand governments to review progress made by INTERFET in securing East Timor. Secretary Cohen's comments echoed previous statements by US Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright, in which she emphatically urged the GOI to protect East Timorese refugees. Relief/Coordination Efforts Food & Logistics - The USAID/OFDA field assessment team reports that, between September 17 - 29, WFP airdropped 191 tons of humanitarian daily rations (HDRs) in East Timor. Of the airdropped HDRs, 155 tons were USG provided; the remaining were provided by WFP. WFP and INTERFET have also airdropped 24 tons of high-energy biscuits provided by WFP and 20 tons of rice in East Timor during this period. - The following drop sites have received emergency food rations: Bobonaro, Ermera, Riberia Laclo, Caliaco, Remexio, Suay, Luro, Malailada, Laclubat, Monte Berilico, and Monte Lamui. - According to the USAID/OFDA team, the joint airdrop operation was indefinitely suspended beginning September 30 due to a rest requirement for pilots and greater overland access for future deliveries. Furthermore, overland distributions are expected to enable better targeting of IDP populations. Airdrop stockpiles yet to be delivered include 9 tons of HDRs (approximately 22,000 rations) and 30 tons of high-energy biscuits. WFP may airlift HDRs from Darwin to the new airfield in Baucau for distribution by road. Baucau, located 100 kilometers east of Dili, is the distribution point for relief operations in the eastern region. - On September 29, WFP conducted one airdrop, delivering 6 tons of HDRs to Monte Lamui. According to the USAID/OFDA team in Jakarta, INTERFET airdrops scheduled were subsequently cancelled after reports that a child was injured as a direct result of the WFP airdrop earlier that day. WFP is investigating this incident and will issue more information once it becomes available. - As part of ongoing efforts to reach at risk populations in areas outside Dili, UN agencies and NGOs launched a 29-vehicle convoy to Baucau and Los Palos on September 29. The convoy overnighted in Baucau, and then traveled onward to Los Palos on September 30. The convoy will deliver fuel to a parish in Baucau, as well as plastic sheeting, food, water containers, and health kits to Los Palos. INTERFET troops are escorting the convoy. - WFP has available a total of 16,000 MT of food for the East Timor crisis, which can feed about 500,000 people for about 2.5 months. Total GOI stocks of rice in Dili are estimated at 6,000 MT. An additional 6,000 MT of rice from GOI stocks is expected to arrive in Dili from Surabaya, Java Island, soon. WFP is also procuring an additional 2,400 MT of food commodities in the region. - In anticipation of a large IDP influx, the UN is developing a contingency plan to bring in food, potable water, and medical assistance to Dili. - Both food and non-food relief supplies continue to arrive in East Timor on a daily basis via air and sea. Two barges leased by the Australian Government and WFP are moving relief supplies between Darwin and East Timor. A third vessel may soon be added. WFP reports the ports in Darwin and Dili are congested. - The WFP barge is expected to make its second trip to East Timor on October 2, carrying six vehicles, 100 MT of rice, and fuel (all provided by Australia). In addition, a WFP vessel will depart Surabaya on September 29, with 5,100 MT of rice. - Over a five-day period, a plane leased by the Australian Government has transported 132 tons of relief supplies. WFP is also operating an air shuttle service from Surabaya to Kupang (the West Timor provincial capital) and Dili. UNICEF is operating an air shuttle between Darwin and Dili for transport of UNICEF personnel and relief supplies. - In addition, a total of 30 low-capacity trucks are now available in Dili. This includes 8 trucks from ICRC, 3 from UNHCR, 5 from WFP, and 1 from UNICEF. Twelve trucks are in the pipeline. High capacity storage tents (rubhalls) have also arrived in East Timor and are being assembled in strategic locations. - WFP recently began a food-for-work program in Dili, employing 30 people to clean warehouses. WFP plans to expand the program to include the clean up of market places and other public areas. - Several aid agencies, including CARE, Action contre la Faim (ACF), and ICRC, are preparing to distribute about 120,000 standardized family survival kits in East Timor to meet the non-food needs of IDPs. In addition, aid agencies plan to distribute timber and basic tool kits to persons whose homes were damaged or destroyed. Aid agencies are urgently trying to acquire water tankers as well. - Insecurity has hampered WFP food distributions in West Timor. WFP is working with Poskos (a consortium of local NGOs) to distribute food to IDPs in the province. Health and Water/Sanitation - Three mobile health teams are being organized in Kupang district to conduct epidemiological surveillance and nutrition activities, as well as to provide medical referrals, health education, and complementary foods. UNICEF plans to support the mobile teams. UNICEF is also working with local officials in Atambua to address the psychosocial needs of IDPs. UNICEF may train church workers on psychosocial counseling. - UNICEF, primarily working with local staff and clergy, has provided relief supplies in camps in Kupang district. In addition, UNICEF has undertaken some water and sanitation work in the district. - A team of water/sanitation specialists from UNICEF and ICRC have chemically treated Dili's spring water sources. The spring water is now potable. The British government plans to transport water tankers, which are in short supply, to East Timor soon. Officials in Baucau report an urgent need for potable water for 7,000 persons, including 3,000 IDPs. - According to UNICEF, all six medical facilities in the western and eastern sectors of Dili are ready to begin operations. The main hospital in Dili is now open, with medical and surgical staff provided by ICRC. Protection/Security/Shelter - The humanitarian community remains concerned about the issue of access and security in camps, particularly in West Timor. Two regional (non-western) staff from UNHCR are traveling to Kupang on September 30 to facilitate access to camps in that area. - According to GOI officials, only 40% of IDPs in West Timor wish to return home. However, 80% of IDPs interviewed by UN regional staff members in camps near Atambua have stated they wish to return home. Some IDPs in West Timor were forcibly deported from East Timor. - The GOI is scheduled to begin an information campaign to encourage IDPs in West Timor to return home soon. The campaign may include radio broadcasts and the placement of posters in camps. - In advance of an IDP influx, UNHCR is exploring with INTERFET the possibility of establishing a reception center near Baucau to serve as a transit facility for IDPs traveling home from West Timor. On September 29, an unspecified number of church missionaries were allowed to travel from West Timor to East Timor. According to USAID/OFDA field staff, this is the first reported return to take place to date. - INTERFET reported on September 29 that two platoons will provide security humanitarian organizations on a permanent basis. UNOCHA is working to INTERFET to develop a schedule for future assessments and operations using military escorts. - UNHCR plans to assist 100,000 affected East Timorese, as well as an additional 100,000 beneficiaries in West Timor. UNHCR has established an office in Dili as well as offices in Kupang and Atambua to address protection of IDPs. The UN OCHA and UNHCR will share the Kupang sub-office. Coordination - Currently, 12 NGOs have a presence in East Timor. Most NGOs are conducting initial assessments and will begin humanitarian operations soon. - On September 28, the UN released a needs assessment report on East and West Timor. Based on this assessment, the UN OCHA will issue a revised inter-agency appeal within 10-14 days. The assessment indicated approximately $135.5 million is required to meet the needs of IDPs in East and West Timor from September 1999 through February 2000. - On September 23, UN OCHA conducted two aerial assessments over East Timor, with logistical support from INTERFET. The assessment revealed damage to approximately 60-70% of houses in the western region. The towns of Ainaro, Cassa, and Gleno, located south of Dili, also were damaged extensively. The East Timor port of Suay was also reported to be 95% damaged. Manatuto, located between Dili and Baucau, was also destroyed during the violent rampage. Most of the damage was caused by fire and primarily affected small villages. Financial Support - To date, the USG has provided more than $20 million in response to the crisis in East Timor. USG assistance focuses primarily on USAID programs, delivered mainly through NGO partners, to meet the humanitarian needs of IDPs in East and West Timor. USAID's assistance is based on field assessments by personnel from USAID/OFDA and USAID/Jakarta, as well as proposals submitted by NGOs. USAID/OFDA $2,788,750 USAID/FFP $9,969,000 USAID/Jakarta $1,301,794 US DOD $1,275,000 State/PRM $5,100,000 TOTAL USG ASSISTANCE $20,434,544 distributed by - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Volunteers in Technical Assistance Disaster Information Center lists: www.vita.org/listsub.htm sitreps nat-dsr web: www.vita.org appeal fireline - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -