”There is no short term solution to the internal displacement situation in Timor-Leste” says UN

5 Jul 2008

”There is no short term solution to the internal displacement situation in Timor-Leste” says UN

"There is no short term solution to the internal displacement situation in Timor-Leste" says UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Timor-Leste

Dili, Timor-Leste – The Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, H.E. Mr. Estanislau da Silva together with the Deputy UN Envoy and Humanitarian Coordinator, Mr. Finn Reske-Nielsen, today officially launched the Consolidated Appeal (CAP) Mid-Year Review for Timor-Leste.

"There is no short term solution to the internal displacement situation in Timor-Leste" says UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Timor-Leste

Dili, Timor-Leste – The Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, H.E. Mr. Estanislau da Silva together with the Deputy UN Envoy and Humanitarian Coordinator, Mr. Finn Reske-Nielsen, today officially launched the Consolidated Appeal (CAP) Mid-Year Review for Timor-Leste.

"There is no short term solution to the internal displacement situation in Timor-Leste, therefore we need to design our assistance programs with a medium term perspective," said the Humanitarian Coordinator at the launching ceremony in Dili.

The CAP is the international community's most important tool for raising resources for humanitarian action. By helping relief actors come together to develop their plans jointly in a coherent and coordinated manner, the CAP facilitates the establishment of a unified framework for strategic and inclusive humanitarian response.

On 17 July 2007, the United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mr. John Holmes, launched the Mid-Year Review of the Consolidated Appeals Process (CAP) for 2007 in Geneva. Six months after the launch of the global Humanitarian Appeal 2007, the United Nations, the International Organisation for Migration, and 220 non-governmental aid organisations still require $2.5 billion to respond to the world's most severe crises.

Timor-Leste is among the countries needing humanitarian assistance. The international humanitarian community, in close consultation with the Government of Timor-Leste, is appealing for an additional $17.9 million USD to address the ongoing urgent humanitarian needs in the country for the remainder of the year. The revision brings the total appeal for humanitarian projects in Timor-Leste from January to December 2007 to $34.2 million. To date, forty six per cent of these requirements have been met. $16.3 million had been requested in the original Consolidated Appeal for January to June 2007 which was launched in January of this year.

Eight national NGOs, ten international NGOs, nine UN agencies and IOM have submitted a total of 53 projects in ten sectors namely, agriculture, camp management, coordination, economic recovery, education, food, health, protection, shelter, and water and sanitation.

The strategic priorities of the revised CAP are:

* Continued emergency assistance by addressing the immediate humanitarian needs of IDPs, returnees and other vulnerable populations;
* Lay the groundwork and initiate interventions for the transition from emergency to early recovery;
* Address community dialogue and root factors for return, resettlement and reintegration of IDPs.

Resolving the internal displacement situation in Timor-Leste will require medium to long-term efforts. Sustained policy dialogue matched with commitment and funding will enable the Government of Timor-Leste to address the overarching issue of land and property rights, and progress in socio-economic development throughout the country.

Despite the specific and distinct vulnerabilities of IDPs, the humanitarian community will continue to target the most vulnerable persons in need of protection and assistance, including in the wider communities.

During the next few months, specific issues will be looked at more in-depth such as land and property rights, transitional shelter strategies, multi-sector needs humanitarian assessments and IDP numbers, and a recovery strategy. Donor support for these efforts will be critical.

The Consolidated Appeal Mid-Year Review document for Timor-Leste is available on www.humanitarianappeal.net. Details on funding, including donor totals, can be found on the Financial Tracking Service on www.reliefweb.int/fts.