The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is launching an emergency appeal for almost 570,000 Swiss francs ($470,00 USD/ euro365,000) to support the relief and recovery operation led by the Timor-Leste Red Cross (Cruz Vermehla de Timor-Leste) in response to recent storms and flooding in the country.
The funds will be used to finance the cleaning of wells, the purification of water storage equipment and the purchase of temporary shelter materials for an estimated 8,400 people over the next six months. Mosquito nets will also be purchased since the waterlogged land is a breeding ground for malaria-infected mosquitoes.
Since mid-January 2005, heavy rains, strong winds and continuous flooding have destroyed thousands of crops and damaged more than 1,200 homes in several districts in Timor-Leste, including Ainaro, Bobonaro, Baucau, Viqueque and the remote region of Oecusse. "Water is flowing out of the drainage canals instead of into them,” said one villager in Oecusse. “Many open wells have also been overwhelmed by flood waters.”
The Timor-Leste Red Cross has dispatched disaster management assessment teams to survey the damage and respond to the needs of the local population. The Timor-Leste Red Cross is also coordinating its response operation with local officials, as well as non-governmental organizations. The International Federation has released 200,000 Swiss francs (euro128,000/ US$ 152,000) from its Disaster Relief Emergency Fund to help start the relief operation immediately.
The International Federation estimates that in the region of Oecusse alone, more than 500 families have been affected by the severe weather, which blew roofs off houses, overturned shelters and cut many villages off from access to food and drinking water. The number of affected families is expected to rise because of the ongoing heavy rains across the region.
Oecusse, a remote enclave located 15 hours by ferry from the capital, Dili, is particularly vulnerable to flooding and food shortages. Heavy rains caused the river Tono to overflow its banks, flooding numerous villages and cutting thousands of people off from safe drinking water because of contaminated wells. Food and fuel are also in short supply since the area is only accessible by ferry or helicopter.
Many areas in Timor-Leste, especially rural villages and hamlets, tend to face food shortages between the months of November and February, but the problem is now especially acute because of the recent flash floods, which have caused over 3,100 farmers to suffer crop damage.