Timor Leste emergency appeal update

Children enjoying education classes in one of the camps

At least 140,000 people fled their homes in Dili, Timor Leste during April’s political violence. Supporter donations of over US$500,000 have helped Plan provide emergency relief for children and adults now living in camps in Dili and surrounding districts.

At the start of the conflict, Plan delivered food and other essential needs like tents, blankets and cooking kits to one of the largest camps, where up to 13,000 people were sheltering.

Plan projects

Plan is focusing on disaster response in four key areas: health, learning, habitat, and child protection and participation.

Our project work to date includes:

• construction of toilet and shower facilities in Dili camps
• distribution of tents, tarpaulins, household items and food stuff to displaced people
• organising the National Youth Council to speak out in favour of peace and reconciliation and to take positive steps to reduce tensions in the community
• training for camp volunteers and care givers on the special needs of children in camps
• setting up of child-friendly spaces and women's meeting areas in our camps
• hygiene and clean-up campaigns to highlight the health hazards of inappropriately-disposed rubbish, dirty latrines and standing water
• health education for pregnant women.

We are working with a range of local and international agencies, including Bibi Bulak (Crazy Goat) who provide theatre workshops in a number of our camps.

Child-friendly spaces

Emergency support now provides education and hygiene facilities within the camps. Children are being given non-formal education and child-friendly spaces have been created to ensure their safety.

11-year-old Maria Zinha Soares living in the Motael displaced people’s camp said: “How our country turned into a big disorder makes me deeply sad. The violence that we see around makes me real scared.

“But we have found refuge in the camp. I like it best when I go with other children in the child-friendly spaces where we play, draw, hear stories and sing together. I forget being afraid and sad.”

Health and hygiene have also been at the forefront of Plan’s work in the camps. The children and their families now have access to clean water and sanitation facilities. Toilets, water tanks and taps have been built. Safe health and hygiene practice is actively encouraged and local health volunteers have been mobilised within the camp to spearhead the implementation.

With the impending rainy season in Timor Leste, much more is still needed to prevent an outbreak of disease. Long term access to safe water supplies needs to be guaranteed.

We are also looking at long-term initiatives and hope to restart our program work in the Aileu region, 50 kilometres south of Dili, in the near future.