Back to most recent news releases • Browse archive: 2005 • 2006 • 2007 • 2008 • Email this story

Situation Report: East Timor Displaced Persons

May 24, 2006

Tensions and incidences of violence continue to be erratic in East Timor, particularly in the capital city Dili, where rioting broke out on April 28 - 29. Now clashes between protesting former soldiers and government troops have resulted in at least two deaths and caused disruptions of daily life throughout the city. Many families have fled their homes in fear of the escalating tensions. The region has a long history of violence and conflict. In 1999, most of the country's economic infrastructure was destroyed during an intense war for independence from Indonesia.

RESPONSE:

CWS East Timor has been providing food aid and health kits to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) sheltered at a convent in Canosa. Caregivers at the convent have requested food aid for approximately 465 displaced households (approx. 2,000 persons) from the Susteran Canosa region.

In response to this request, CWS East Timor has distributed food aid and health items to some 465 households.

Each household received:

1 quart cooking oil
4.5 ounces of iodized salt
6.5 ounces of detergent
2 bars of bath soap

Volunteers and Sisters at the convent also helped distribute household and kitchen utensils provided by a CWS partner in East Timor.

Media Contact:
Lesley Crosson, CWS/New York, 212-870-2676;
Jan Dragin, 781-925-1526;

Back to most recent news releases • Browse archive: 2005 • 2006 • 2007 • 2008 • Email this story