No significant incidents have been reported. A change in the road security system has been announced by INTERFET. A police movement control will be put in place and security colour codes will include green for secure roads; amber (yellow) for roads where military escort is not required (however, authoisation has to be obtained); red for road movements that require escorts; and white for roads with no civilian movements. The road between Dili and Badugade has been declared green, and Badugade - Maliana is classified as amber.

INTERFET is running an information campaign for the collection of weapons on 20 October, including distribution of a booklet and loudspeaker announcements.

In the lead-up to the presidential elections on 20 October, there are increasing demonstrations in Jakarta. Most of the public attention is focussed on this process and discussions with senior officials have become more difficult..

In order to facilitate the exchange of information between agencies and organisations, and to avoid duplicated efforts, INTERFET CMOC has assisted OCHA in installing an information centre at UNHOC. There is a wall map, marked with agency representation, listed by sector and colour coded to identify degree of needs. A database has been developed, which will be fed with information from Rapid Needs Assessment Forms completed after all assessment missions. Reports and other useful information, such as road security and a newly developed chart with helicopter landing areas are posted at the centre.

The Banco Nacional Ultramarino, a Portuguese State bank that used to operate in East Timor, plans to be the first bank to open in East Timor (within three weeks). As a first step, the bank will pay salaries and pensions to East Timorese civil servants remaining in the country. It plans to make payments in Portuguese Escudos.

The Humanitarian Coordinator met with the Indonesian Task Force, who expressed its interest in assistance being provided to East Timorese who may still wish to leave to East Timor. It also offered to consider transport assistance for returnees to East Timor.

A joint delegation from the Swedish and Norwegian Embassies in Jakarta is visiting Dili. Meetings have been held with the Humanitarian Coordinator, INTERFET, UNAMET and UNHCR. The aim of the visit is to lay a foundation in the Nordic capitals regarding future assistance to the humanitarian sector in East Timor.

OCHA representatives from Jakarta, Kupang, Atambua and Darwin visited Dili on Sunday and Monday for coordination planning, in particular in view of the possible mass influx of East Timorese from West Timor.

The UN/NGO Contingeny Plan group, led by UNHCR, is making arrangements for the establishment of transit facilities in Batugade (100,000 persons expected), Maliana (25,000) and Suai (25, 000), in case of a massive influx of East Timorese from West Timor. It is estimated that some 20,000 persons could cross the border per day. Spontaneous movements over the border to Maliana have already been spotted of some 200 persons who may feel threatened or pushed by "militia" elements, including women and children. This is
the first cross-border return. 5,000-6,000 persons reportedly may arrive in Maliana over the next few days.

Site selection: UNHCR, in close cooperation with INTERFET (security) and OXFAM (water); Distribution of food at transit sites: UNHCR, with the assistance of an NGO yet to be identified; Water/Sanitation: OXFAM;
Health: UNICEF, with the participation of MDM, MSF and possibly AMI; Transportation of food and non-food items: WFP; Transportation of persons: IOM in close cooperation with WFP. ICRC
will support all sectors.

Refugees arriving at the transit centres will be further transported to their places of origin, via ground transport or possibly naval assets. OCHA, WFP, UNHCR and IOM were invited to visit the French ship "Siroco" on 18 October, and discussions were held on how the ship could assist in the transport of potential refugees from West Timor. The ship has a capacity of 3,000 persons for short trips (e.g. Batugade - Dili). The French expressed their willingness to assist and technical details are being checked.

The first transportation by ship of 2,000 persons from Kupang to Dili is expected to take place on Thursday, 21 October (arrival Dili 22 October). Shipments are scheduled to continue on a 48-hour rotation.

16 October: Kupang - Dili / 3 flights / 285 returnees.
Jakarta / Bacau / 1 flight / 211 returnees.
17 October: Kupang - Baucau / 2 flights / 194 returnees.
Jakarta - Baucau / 1 flight / 99 returnees.
18 October: Kupang - Dili / 2 flights / 193 returnees.
Kupang - Baucau / 2 flights / 188 returnees.

On 17 October, 73 returnees who had previously arrived in Baucau were transported by WFP trucks to Dili. INTERFET transported 108 persons from Bacau to Dili on 18 October, on 3 flights.

Quite a difference has been noticed in the condition of people arriving from Kupang and Jakarta respectively. In the former case, people are much thinner and need more attention. They seem very relieved to arrive in East Timor. The Jakarta groups are mostly students living in better material conditions.

A UNAMET/MLO two-day recce mission visited Same. WFP went with an INTERFET recce team by helicopter to Same where they met with the priest and distributed a few bags of rice. There are no trucks in Same. The water supply is estimated to be good. Electricity
needs to be checked. There is a great need for food, medicines, soap and clothes. People were busy planting, so it is supposed that seeds are available. The priest estimated the number of persons who went to West Timor at some 2,000.

Two MLOs went to Manatuto on 17 October where they deployed and opened the UN office. Food and non-food items have been requested. There is no electricity.

A CMOC-sponsored military investigation mission went to Ermera, via Glane, on 17 October. WFP provided rice for distribution. In the meantime, WFP has sent advance trucks with rice to Ermera.

The resident MLO in Maliana, on visit to Dili, informed that the security situation in Maliana town is good. There is no office accommodation, since all government buildings have been burned. 90%
of houses have no roofs; tarpaulins and sheeting is needed to reconstruct roofs; a four-day cycle of rain has already started in Maliana. Water and electricity is a problem and various experts are
looking into repairs. The water supply flow in town can be tapped into and water can be purified, however, the town water rely on power and there is no generator. The filtration system has also been damaged. Only two trucks exist in Maliana. DFID has offered to leave behind one truck for contingency situations. The CNRT is less organised than in other areas and the church has yet to be re- established. Some 5,000 persons are estimated to remain in the hills around the town, and another 5,000 in the sub-district north of Maliana. Families prefer to stay in the hills overnight, where they have better shelter than in town. The intrastructure of Maliana risks to be strained with a large influx of refugees from West Timor, particularly as concerns water.

An MLO convoy returned from Suai on 17 October. There are an estimated 4,000 persons in Suai (previously 9,000 in town / 29,000 in the region). Some 45,000 IDPs still live in the surrounding hills. The mission was limited by the lack of transportation - there is only one local truck in the area. There is virtually no rice, the population eat manioc, maize and bananas. The mission delivered 96 bags of rice and some cooking oil. 80 bags of rice were left at the airport (transportation vehicle broken), under the guard of CNRT and INTERFET, for further distribution. Some generators seem to be repairable. The fuel tank has been totally destroyed. The water pump has been removed and there is no running water. Soap is badly needed for personal hygiene and to wash clothes. Diseases such as TB, malaria, high fever, stomach disorders, skin diseases are
widely spread. UNAMET has a small warehouse facility in Suai, however, there is very little infrastructure to sustain a long-term operation. UNAMET has identified a site for their headquarters and additional personnel is forthcoming. WFP made 5 helicpoter flights on 16 October with 3 ? tons each of rice, oil, tarpaulins and medical kits. WFP is also planning to send a barge with additional humanitarian assistance, from Darwin to Suai. INTERFET made a test C-130 aircraft landing on the 900 m long tarmac, which is determined not to be fit for further landings with such large aircraft.

MDM visited the Maubisse area with a mobile team. They report that there is an urgent need for plastic sheeting and blankets as temperatures are dropping. MDM plans to return on 18 October. The Portuguese Civil Defence team is sending a medical team by the middle of next week.

UNICEF went to Soba, in the Baucau area. Half of the schools there have been destroyed and furniture and books have been burned. The remaining teachers are meeting to discuss how to get the children back to school. Benches will be provided by the church.

6 persons walked from Ainaro and were received by OCHA in Dili on 18 October. OCHA was told that many persons have returned from the hills and that 2,000-10,000 persons had been forced away to camps. Despite destruction, persons are coming back to surrounding villages, in order to plant seeds. Many fields have been prepared for planting, however, there is an urgent need for seeds, in particular corn, red beans and soya beans. Other priority needs are food, shelter, medical supplies and soap, as well as sugar, salt, clothing and kitchen equipment. ICRC intends to return to Ainaro this week. Seeds are due to arrive from Surabaya next week.

ICRC went to Remixio where they distributed food and non-food items for some 500 persons.

The WFP vessel is discharging in the port of Dili. It will then pick up seeds from Surabaya, together with UNHCR shelter material. A barge with trucks is expected to arrive next Tuesday, 19 October, from Darwin.

WFP reports that there is now a complete food basket (rice, oil, pulses) to last for a couple of months. CARE, Caritas and World Vision are ready with warehouses and personnel for distribution purposes. 17 tons of high protein biscuits are stocked at Baucau and could be used for an eventual mass influx of returnees. WFP is seeking to deploy NGOs for food distribution.

An ICRC nutritionist started a one-week nutrition survey in affected areas on 18 October, in particular in the western sector. ACF has carried out a survey as reported earlier. UNICEF and World Vision plan to conduct a longer-term nutrition survey.

A flyer in the Tetun language has been distributed in Dili to alert the population about the major UNICEF/MSF/WHO vaccination campaign that will take place on 19 October. A WHO malaria expert is undertaking an etymological study for better control. The UN compound has been analysed as having the highest amount of mosquitoes in Dili! WHO chairs a regular coordination meeting from Baucau, which covers data collected from Los Palos, Viqueque, Baucau and Manatuto.

OXFAM went to Maliana on 17 October, with the assistance of WFP. The water system is not operational. OXFAM is identifying proper sites for the setting up of transit centres for the possible mass influx of returnees. The football stadium in Dili is now connected to the water system. The repair of the water supply in Dili is under study, involving, inter alia, the former water authorities.

UNHCR has established shelter priorities according to the following criteria: level of damage; start of the rainy season; regions with the severest rainfalls; population as per pre-event
registration; expected impact with return of refugees from West Timor.

High priority: Bononaro/Maliana - Caritas; Los Palos - Concern, ICRC; Suai/Kovalima - Timor Aid; Liquica - Peace Winds Japan; Ermera - ACF; Medium priority: Dili - ICRC, Goal; Manatuto - ACF, IRC; Ainaro - Timor Aid; Aileu - Goal; Same/Manufahi - Caritas, Timor Aid; Low priority: Baucau - Caritas; Vikeke - Caritas.

UNICEF met with Archbishop Belo who informed them that the primary education will most likely be in Portuguese, English, Tetun and Indonesian, in that order. Political discussions will be required to determine which language and educational materials will be used in East Timor.

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