IOM has received EUR 688,350 from the European Commission's
Humanitarian Aid Department (ECHO) to help internally displaced
people (IDPs) in the capital Dili and other districts of
Timor-Leste.

The funding will be used to provide camp management and
coordination services to 16 IDP sites, logistics and transport
support to humanitarian operations, and return and reintegration
assistance to hundreds of displaced families.

Since the political crisis in April of last year, which resulted
in a breakdown of law and order and the deployment of Australian
peace keepers, IOM has helped the Timorese authorities to provide
essential humanitarian aid to over 100,000 people displaced by the
violence.

"The ECHO contribution comes at a critical time when IOM, the
Government and humanitarian partners are redoubling their efforts
to ensure the continued protection of the IDPs, while seeking
sustainable solutions for their return and reintegration," said IOM
Chief of Mission Luiz Vieira.

The ECHO funding will allow IOM to provide return and
reintegration help to up to 100,000 displaced people currently
living in IDP camps – many of which were set up in and around
the capital over a year ago.

This will include transport from the camps to go and see
conditions in their communities of origin before they return
permanently; help to either return home or relocate somewhere else
for the longer-term; facilitation of dialogue and
confidence-building activities between IDPs and communities; and
the implementation of a village council capacity building programme
that helps councils to address conflict and community development
needs.

For more information please contact:

Angela Sherwood

IOM Dili

Tel.+670 723 1576

Email: "mailto:asherwood@iom.int" target="_blank" title=
"">asherwood@iom.int