IOM food deliveries to IDP camps in Dili and Liquisa have continued
through the past four days, despite mass demonstrations calling for
the resignation of Prime Minister Alkatiri and celebrations
following his decision to step down on Monday.

 

The arrival of thousands of demonstrators from western districts
during the weekend fueled fears of violence, swelling numbers in
Dili IDP camps to some 72,000 people. But fears of clashes between
rival factions proved groundless.

 

On Friday IOM delivered a 35 MT two-week government rice ration to
10,800 people in four Dili camps.  It also loaded 14 MT of WFP
food aid onto a ferry destined for the Oecussi enclave.

 

On Saturday and Monday it delivered 43 MT to 11,500 IDPs in
Bazartete in Liquisa district. The deliveries bring the total
amount of government rice delivered by IOM to IDPs since May 29th
to 820 MT.

 

IOM's work in the Eastern district of Baucau temporarily stopped
over the weekend, following the tragic death of an IOM driver,
Eugenio da Costa, in a road accident. The funeral took place on
Saturday.

 

With the relaxation of tension in Dili following the resignation of
the prime minister yesterday, IOM is today facilitating a
children's outing to a Malaysian warship, the Maha Wangsa.

 

The outing, organized for 50 local children by Nobel Laureate and
former Foreign and Defence Minister Jose Ramos Horta, took place
this morning.

 

"These kids really need a break after nearly two months of
dislocation. When Dr Ramos Horta asked if we could provide
transport, we were very happy to help," says IOM Dili Chief of
Mission Luiz Vieira.

 

Meanwhile IOM and UNICEF are planning to construct a child friendly
space in the Comoro airport IDP camp later this week. The camp,
which is managed by IOM and NGO partners Rede Feto and AustCare,
now houses some 6,000 people, including hundreds of children.

 

A second, smaller camp in the National Stadium, which will also be
managed by IOM and Rede Feto, is also scheduled for completion
later this week. Some 183 families currently living in poor
conditions in other camps will eventually move into UNHCR tents on
the site. Water and sanitation facilities will be provided by
UNICEF and the NGO Triangle.

 

For more information, please contact:

Angela Sherwood

IOM Dili

Tel.: +670.7266008

E-mail: "mailto:asherwood@iom.int" target="_blank" title=
"">asherwood@iom.int

Chris Lom

Tel.: +670.7231576

E-mail: "mailto:clom@iom.int" target="_blank" title="">clom@iom.int