Dili, 22 May 2000
The death toll from the floods in West Timor has risen to 98 confirmed deaths. In addition, eleven people are reported missing. The number of unconfirmed deaths stands 125.
Initial reports indicate that between 100 to 200 houses have been swept away. A more precise assessment of the damage wrought by the floods is not yet possible as bridges have been washed away and roads remain impassable.
Meanwhile, the aid effort continues unabated. The airlift operation has gathered momentum; over 50 metric tonnes of relief supplies, mostly food, were airlifted by UNTAET and WFP aircraft to five different locations in the flooded areas of West Timor over the weekend. About one-half of the 20,000 expected daily food rations (Humanitarian Daily Rations) has arrived in the area as of yesterday, 21 May. About 20 metric tonnes of rice was expected to arrive as well.
Five villages in Malaka Barat have received shipments of food and other items over the weekend.
A second WFP convoy of four trucks and a four-wheel vehicle left Dili for Betun loaded with food. The shipment contained one tonne of rice and 10,000 prepared meals. This went to Besikama village.
Six metric tonnes of rice was distributed to Weoe village and 1,5 metric tonnes of rice were brought to the village of Hatimuk from the Government of Indonesia on 19 May. Non-food items were delivered to Hatimuk on 20 May.
Three tonnes of rice and non-food items were sent to the village of Wetulan. Food as well as non-food items were delivered to Rabasa Hain over the weekend.
Yesterday, UNHCR organized the delivery of non-food items to 540 families in Oebelo village in West Timor.
MSF has set up a clinic in Betun and is operating two mobile health centres. There is no urgent need for medicine at the moment, according to UNHCR s health coordinator.
The local authorities in West Timor have agreed to the idea of receiving and accommodating flood victims. Three potential sites have been identified for possible relocation of flood victims. These camps can accommodate some 4,000 people. However, according to the UNHCR assessment team, this is not necessary yet.
Meanwhile, the business community in East Timor has donated rice, noodles, fish, cooking oil and a number of non-food items such as buckets and clothes. The items were donated to the CNRT and will be distributed by UNTAET s humanitarian pillar and the Peacekeeping Force to affected areas in Suai, Baucau, Viqueque and Los Palos. In addition, five million rupiah - approximately US$625 - have been collected by the community for the victims of West Timor.
FIRST DOCUMENTED CASES OF JAPANESE ENCEPHALITIS
A 23-year old woman from Viqueque died from Japanese Encephalitis on Tuesday last week in what is believed to be the first documented case of the disease in East Timor. A 12-year old child is currently being treated for the disease at the Medecins Sans Frontieres France hospital in Viqueque.
These are the first documented cases of the disease in humans in East Timor, according to the World Health Organization. The organization is planning, together with the Interim Health Authority and health NGOs, a strategy for a vaccination campaign for those most at risk. Other preventive measures include the distribution of insecticide treated bed nets.
Antibodies for Japanese Encephalitis were found in one blood sample from a pig in Viqueque in February. Samples from a total of 24 pigs and 20 chickens were collected in Dili and other districts. The final results came to WHO in April.
The virus is rare among humans but according to WHO the disease is fatal in 25 to 40 per cent of the cases.
WHO highly recommends that continued precautions be made to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes, which transmit Japanese Encephalitis, dengue infection as well as malaria.
UNTAET TO MEET WITH INDONESIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY
A delegation led by Peter Galbraith, Head of UNTAET Political Affairs Office, will meet Indonesian counterparts of the Foreign Ministry on Wednesday and Thursday, 24 and 25 May 2000, in Yogyakarta, Central Java.
The agenda includes assets claims and liability, archives, and many of the outstanding issues from the last roundtable of negotiations, such as pensions, border issues, the Oecussi corridor, and the establishment of a Joint Border Commission.
Sudjadnan Parnohadiningrat, Director of the International Organization of the Indonesian Foreign Ministry, will lead the Indonesian delegation.
PAG DEPLOYMENT
A total of 31 members of the Police Assistance Group have gone through basic training and are now being deployed in nine districts. Aileu, Ainaro, Baucau, Bobonaro, Covalima, Dili, Los Palos, Ermera and Viqueque. About 15 are stationed in Dili.
Another group of 49 people is scheduled to start training on 29 May. The PAG members have previously served as police officers in East Timor and have been accepted by the CNRT.
Members of the Police Assistance Group work together with the UN Civilian Police and are conducting foot patrols around the Governor s Office and the main market area. The group is also carrying out car patrols in Delta Comoro within the vicinity of the power station and the office of the International Committee of the Red Cross.
SECOND GRADUATION OF SECURITY GUARDS
On 20 May 2000, the second batch of 20 security guards graduated from the Civil Service Academy.
The Government Security Office of the Civil Service and Public Employment, CISPE, is responsible for what will be an estimated 1,200 security guards for the entire East Timor. Currently, 900 security guards are deployed at various facilities of the GPA. Initially, untrained local personnel were given employment. The first batch of trainees completed training last week.
Mr. Kai Vitrupp, Adviser on Security to DSRSG Jean-Christian Cady, presided at the graduation ceremony. In his speech, Mr. Vitrupp emphasized the need for capacity building and said they are now part of the hope for the future for East Timor.
