11 February, Timor-Leste-- The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has launched a US$2 million project funded by the European Commission (EC)'s Stability Instrument to enhance community stability in areas affected by the return or resettlement of displaced people.

The 18-month project has two main components: working with communities and the government to improve infrastructure in targeted areas; and the production of a telenovela or soap opera for TV and radio promoting reconciliation after the 2006 civil unrest.

IOM will use the funding to work directly with communities, local councils (sucos) and the government to improve infrastructure in areas where access to limited resources, such as water, are potentially a source of conflict.

The project will also produce and distribute a TV and radio soap opera designed to encourage national reflection about what happened in 2006, the social and economic causes behind it and the need for reconciliation.

After the broadcasts, IOM will work closely with targeted communities to facilitate discussion of the programme's themes and establish stronger linkages with existing peace-building and conflict resolution programmes.

"The return and reintegration of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Timor-Leste is difficult for everybody involved. This project will help the government, communities and individuals by both removing some potential flashpoints through physical infrastructure upgrades, and by helping people to reflect and come to terms with the impact of the crisis on their society," says IOM Chief of Mission Luiz Vieira.

"The European Commission strongly supports activities that aim to facilitate the reintegration of the IDPs in their home communities, thus contributing to the government's efforts to strengthen and maintain social stability in the country. Such stability is an absolute requirement for moving forward, from a post-conflict situation to an era of sustained national economic development," said EC Ambassador Juan Carlos Rey.

The project follows two consecutive EC-funded IOM projects to provide humanitarian and return and reintegration support to IDPs, and is designed to complement humanitarian assistance by increasing the sustainability of the returns.

It builds on an earlier EC-funded IOM community-based return monitoring project which is providing the government, IOM and other agencies with data on conflict risks in communities, stemming primarily from large-scale IDP returns.

Civil unrest in April and May 2006 resulted in the displacement of an estimated 150,000 people, with approximately 100,000 still displaced by the end of 2007. By the end of 2008 approximately 10,000 displaced families—formerly living in over 40 camps—had received government return and reintegration support. There are still approximately 1,000 families in five camps waiting for return and reintegration assistance.

For more information please contact Brad Mellicker at IOM Dili. Email:bmellciker@iom.int. Tel.+670. 735.1998.