Number of displaced in Timor-Leste continues to rise

(New York: 27 June 2006): The number of people internally displaced by the violence and political tensions in Timor-Leste has risen by 10,000 since last week, with the total number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) now exceeding 150,000 according to the United Nations. More than 72,000 people are living in some 66 makeshift tent camps in the capital city of Dili, while an additional 79,000 have sought shelter in 12 of the country's outlying districts.

The majority of the IDPs who fled to the districts are living with host families and the sudden increase in population has led to widespread food shortages in some areas. In addition to the Joint Rapid Assessment of IDPs, which began yesterday under the leadership of the inter-agency Humanitarian Coordination Group and the Government, the humanitarian agencies are delivering assistance provided by the Government and aid groups to the districts. In the past week, nearly 100 metric tonnes of food relief has been delivered to Ermera and Manatutu districts.

The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) has coordinated the delivery of 80 tonnes of food and non-food assistance to Atauro district, while the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is working with the World Food Programme (WFP) to provide two-month rations of rice and other food aid to schools and community centres in Liquisa and Anairo districts.

In Dili, the WFP reports that it has completed a second round of two-week food distributions to IDP locations with the delivery of nearly 54 metric tonnes of food for some 53,000 people, to complement the 214 tonnes of rice distributed by the Government.

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has resumed its measles vaccination campaign, which had been suspended last week due to political tensions. By the end of the day, some 12,000 children in 40 IDP locations will have been vaccinated. The campaign will continue tomorrow as teams travel to Atauro district and vaccinations begin in the schools in Dili that have resumed classes.

Additionally, the UNICEF, WFP, Ministry of Health and partners will carry out a nutritional survey in the Dili IDP locations in the coming week to screen for severely malnourished children.

In the shelter sector, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has distributed nearly 1,900 tents, and more than 2,400 plastic sheets, 17,000 blankets and 1,400 jerry cans. The IOM reports that all tents have been erected at the IDP camps at Comoro airport and the National Stadium. The UNICEF and partners are working to provide water and sanitation facilities for both camps.

For further information, please call: Stephanie Bunker, OCHA-New York, +1 917 367 5126, mobile +1 917 892 1679; Kristen Knutson, OCHA-New York, +1 917 367 9262; Elisabeth Byrs, OCHA-Geneva, +41 22 917 2653, mobile, +41 79 473 4570. OCHA press releases are available at http://ochaonline.un.org or www.reliefweb.int.