Unfulfilled protection and assistance needs hamper the return of the displaced

September 2007
Unfulfilled protection and assistance needs hamper the return of the displaced

More than a year after riots and fighting rocked Timor-Leste and sent over 150,000 people to seek refuge, the majority of the internally displaced people (IDPs) are still unable or unwilling to return, and remain in camps in and around the capital, Dili, or hosted by friends and families in Dili and in the districts. An Australian-led international force has since June 2006 restored law and order, but the security situation has remained unstable, with sporadic violence causing further displacement and hampering return. The announcement of the formation of the new government on 6 August 2007 triggered civil unrest, mainly in eastern districts traditionally loyal to the former ruling party FRETILIN, which resulted in the displacement of more than 4,000 people.
It is estimated that 100,000 people remain displaced in the country, with ap-proximately 30,000 living in camps in Dili and 70,000 living in the rural districts, mainly with host families. Urgent problems for camp inhabitants involve a wide range of protection issues, including lack of access to healthcare, lack of adequate water and sanitation, but, while most of the assistance has focused on Dili, people are most vulnerable in the eastern districts, where the influx of displaced people has placed great strain on the very limited resources available to host communities.


* The above article although is outdated, the story remains relevant to this day.But we should take note that some of the IDPs have since returned to their homes with the assistance of the new government.