U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT BUREAU FOR HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE (BHR) OFFICE OF U.S. FOREIGN DISASTER ASSISTANCE (OFDA) INDONESIA - Complex Emergency Fact Sheet # 10, FY1999 October 1, 1999
East Timor - To date, the UN World Food Program (WFP) has airdropped 277,500 USG provided humanitarian daily rations (HDRs) in East Timor. The remaining 22,500 rations will be flown to Baucau and then transported by truck or helicopter to persons in need. WFP and INTERFET have also airdropped 24 tons of high-energy biscuits provided by WFP and 20 tons of rice in East Timor between September 17 - 29. - Contrary to previous reporting, a WFP airdrop on September 29 did not cause an accident in which a child sustained serious injuries. The child was injured during an INTERFET airdrop near Laclubat, according to the USAID/OFDA assessment team based in Jakarta. WFP and INTERFET are unable to provide additional details on the cause or extent of the injury. The joint airdrop operation was suspended indefinitely on September 30 due to a rest requirement for pilots and greater overland access for future deliveries. - As of September 29, WFP food stocks in Dili and Darwin or in the pipeline amount to 12,600 MT of rice, 4,000 MT of maize, 458 MT of pulses, 328.9 MT of oil, 4.8 MT of high energy biscuits, 44.1 MT of protein biscuits, and 126.4 MT of HDRs. (The HDR stock includes both WFP and USG stocks). Approximately 6,000 MT of rice is in Dili currently, with 458 MT of pulses and 320 MT of oil scheduled to arrive soon. Overall, WFP food stocks are enough to meet the needs of 500,000 people for about 2.5 months. - According to the USAID/OFDA field assessment team, World Vision International (WVI) plans to deliver USAID/OFDA- provided relief commodities at regular distribution points soon. The commodities include plastic sheeting, blankets, and water containers and are expected to arrive in Dili from Darwin on October 2 via a WFP barge. The barge is also carrying six vehicles, 100 MT of rice, and fuel (all provided by Australia). WVI has delivered over 35 MT of humanitarian assistance in and around Dili. - UNHCR has developed a contingency plan to provide for the needs of refugees returning to Dili. As of September 29, more than 70,000 IDPs have returned to Dili. As many as 10,000 IDPs are expected to return to Dili daily over the course of the next few days, according to UNHCR. The return plan allocates responsibility to the following agencies for coordination of sectoral assistance: WFP (food), ICRC (water), UNHCR (protection), UNICEF (health), and UNHCR (shelter). - A USAID/OFDA Regional Advisor is expected to arrive in Dili on October 1 to identify critical needs/gaps in the humanitarian response in East Timor. The advisor will return to Dili eventually to assist in coordination of USG assistance, along with the USAID/OFDA field assessment team based in Jakarta. - According to press reports, on September 30, INTERFET troops seized control of Balibo, located in the western East Timor. This was the first deployment of the UN-authorized peacekeeping troops to the western area. The troops reportedly met with no resistance. To date, about 5,300 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. West Timor - According to UNHCR, there are 136,000 IDPs in and around the border town of Atambua. A majority of the IDPs are in seven large sites and about 37,000 IDPs have also gathered in the town of Atambua itself. Small IDP groups in Atambua are scattered in some 21 schools and 31 other establishments. These estimates are based on recent assessments by UNHCR regional staff. - On September 30, UNHCR staff also visited five camps in the Kupang area. UNHCR population estimates for four shelter sites in Kupang are as follows: 2,000 IDPs in Gor Stadium, 1,000 in Koni Stadium, 30,000 in an open area near Tua Pukan, and 300 at a compound in Naibonat. Conditions in Tua Pukan are of particular concern due to lack of potable water, food, and shelter. UNHCR has yet to obtain sufficient access to other campsites in West Timor. - As of September 28, the Government of Indonesia (GOI) reports there are 244,310 IDPs in 37 camps at eleven locations in West Timor and nearby islands. However, these figures may be inflated due to double counting. - The GOI's Ministry of Transmigration has identified a number of areas in Nusatengarra Timor Province for the potential resettlement of 30,000 IDP families now in the Kupang and Atambua areas that do not want to return to East Timor. Resources in the areas where these families have gathered are inadequate to provide for their long term needs. However, humanitarian organizations are advocating a program of voluntary return to East Timor prior to the initiation of any resettlement program. - Continued displacement is expected to negatively affect the mid to late October planting season. If this normal cropping cycle does not occur, the next harvest in April 2000 could potentially be lost, leaving IDPs dependent on humanitarian assistance through April 2001. - Humanitarian agencies report that tens of thousands IDPs in West Timor were forcibly deported from East Timor and are being prohibited from returning home by militias. USG Assistance - To date, the US Government (USG) is providing more than $20 million in response to the crisis in East Timor. USG assistance, provided mainly by USAID and delivered through local and international implementing partners, aims to meet the humanitarian needs of IDPs in East and West Timor. USAID assistance is based on field assessments by USAID/OFDA and USAID/Jakarta staff, as well as information provided by implementing partners. - To date, USAID/OFDA has provided approximately $2.8 million to assist IDPs in East and West Timor. This assistance includes $1.6 million to support the transport of various relief commodities, such as humanitarian daily rations, plastic sheeting, blankets, and water containers. USAID/OFDA also contributed $165,000 grant to an Indonesian NGO implementing water/sanitation activities at four sites along the West Timor border. In addition, USAID/OFDA is also providing $1 million to WFP for logistics and transport operations. - USAID/Office of Food for Peace (FFP) is providing nearly $10 million in food commodities in response to the East Timor Crisis. This assistance includes provision of 4,000 MT of corn and 5,900 MT of rice, valued at $5 million, to WFP to meet the basic grain (carbohydrate) needs of 360,000 people for two months. USAID/FFP has also contributed 6,700 MT of Title II food commodities, valued at $4.2 million, to CARE for IDPs in East Timor. USAID/FFP is providing 1,200 MT of rice, valued at $769,000 through Catholic Relief Services (CRS) for IDPs in West Timor. - Moreover, USAID/Jakarta's Office of Population, Health, and Nutrition (PHN) is providing $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), as well as the Indonesian Enterprise and Trade Development Project (IETDP) for a health initiative. Both activities will benefit IDPs in East Timor. The USAID/Jakarta mission has provided $5,870 to Project Concern International for a health assessment in West Timor. - USAID/Jakarta mission has also contributed $127,000 for the transportation and distribution of USAID/FFP Title II commodities in East Timor. - USAID will continue to assess the situation in East and West Timor and coordinate the USG humanitarian response to the East Timor crisis. - 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 these organizations in meeting the needs of IDPs. - In early September, the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) donated a total of 300,000 humanitarian daily rations 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. In addition, 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. Approximately 20 civil affairs personnel from Fort Bragg will assist INTERFET in establishing a Civil Military Operations Center (CMOC) in Dili. - During a recent visit to Darwin and Jakarta, US Defense Department Secretary William Cohen strongly urged GOI officials to allow refugees in West Timor to return home safely to 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. Statements from both officials have been helpful in generating support within the Indonesian government for promoting greater access to camps and, potentially, for facilitating repatriation. USAID/OFDA $2,787,950 USAID/FFP $9,969,000 USAID/Jakarta $1,301,794 State/PRM $5,100,000 US DOD $1,275,000 TOTAL USG ASSISTANCE $20,433,744 * * This total does not include funding for project funds provided by USAID/Jakarta to support NGO activities in Indonesia. Background 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. Although INTERFET is gaining more access and control outside the East Timor capital of Dili, the overall security situation is tenuous due to continued looting and destruction of buildings. Torchings and killings also continue to be reported in and around Dili. distributed by - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Volunteers in Technical Assistance Disaster Information Center lists: www.vita.org/listsub.htm sitreps nat-dsr web: www.vita.org appeal fireline - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -