Tuesday 28 September 1999
The UN Humanitarian Coordinator, Ross Mountain, has advised relief agencies to make every effort to launch operations in Baucau, which as mentioned yesterday, will be the distribution centre for the eastern part of the island. Mr. Mountain will travel to Baucau this afternoon to meet with Bishop Nascimento, in order to discuss where a second humanitarian base can be set up.
Also, in this regard, a humanitarian road convoy is travelling today to Baucau carrying emergency supplies, food, 4 fuel tankers and approximately 15,000 litres of fuel.
We are also looking into sending a barge loaded with trucks and food stocks to Laga, east of Baucau. The barge should be in place by Friday. Currently, the most important humanitarian needs are facilitating potable water supply and establishing feeding centres. Unicef reports that currently there is not enough capacity to either purify or store water. An urgent request has been made to supply more 5,000 to 10,000 litres water bladders.
According to UNICEF, (from information gathered from the top UNICEF security officer who visited Dili for two days), the roads are congested with people returning from the outlining areas. Up to 80,000 people are expected to return to Dili shortly.
Abdul Mejid Hussein, the head of UNICEF, left this morning for Dili. He is accompanied by 2 UNICEF experts on education and water. They will make an assessment of needs in order to define what is needed for longer term planning.
UNICEF also reports that the Portuguese hospital just outside of Dili is still intact, and therefore, another medical facility is available.
Yesterday, a high level mission from the European Community visited Dili where they held meetings with Ross Mountain and the humanitarian agencies, as well as meeting with the commander of INTERFET, Major-General Cosgrove. The delegation also participated in an aerial reconnaissance of the western sector. The delegation consisted of: Mrs. Onelia Abreu-Ferreira (Director of Humanitarian Assistance from the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affaris); Mr. Lars Backstrom (Director of the Unit for Humanitarian Assistance from Finland, Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and a representative from ECHO.
Yesterday assessment missions:
Two assessment missions took place yesterday:
1) aerial reconnaissance over the western sectors covering Ermera, Suai and Ainaro districts. In Gleno, which is part of Ermera, approximately 70% of the town is destroyed; however, the mission noted that large numbers of people were seen on the road entering the main town. Therefore, it appears that people are returning from the hills.
The second mission was a logistical reconnaissance of Baucau where the humanitarian agencies have identified two buildings to be used as a HQ base for operations.
Airdrops:
Yesterday airdrops were successful. WFP conducted two flights delivering 9 tonnes of HDRs and 3 tonnes of high energy biscuits. The Australian Air Force (RAAF) also conducted two airdrops yesterday carrying 16 tonnes of HDRs into the Lospalos regency (Luro and Malailada).
No snowdrops are planned today by WFP. The pilots are required to take a break after 9 days of flying, however, they will resume the flights on Thursday 30 Sept. The Australian Air Force, will continue to conduct food drops today. They are scheduled to air drop 16 tonnes of HDRs today.
I would like to introduce Joe Barr, Senior Humanitarian Advisor, with OCHA who will take your questions.
A.Ali OCHA, Darwin
28-IX-99
