This week IOM started a third distribution cycle of government rice
that will include deliveries to 66 camps in Dili and the districts
of Baucau, Liquisa, and Bobonaro.



Yesterday, at the start of the two-week delivery plan, IOM trucks
delivered 52.78 MT of rice to 15 IDP camps in Dili. Today, 20 more
camps will receive 137.8 MT, bringing the total amount of rice
distributed by IOM to over 1000 MT since the first distribution six
weeks ago.



IOM yesterday also distributed 5.85 MT of rice to Maliana in
Bobonaro district bordering West Timor as part of a government plan
to provide greater relief to the districts. It will coordinate with
the Ministry of Labour to deliver rice to the districts of Liquisa
and Baucau early next week.



The distribution comes at a time when many camps are beginning to
run low on food and rice in particular – the staple in Timor.
Since 29 May IOM has delivered a ration of 2 kg of rice per
displaced person per week.



“Ensuring that camp populations receive enough food is our
top priority, especially in sites where IDP numbers are growing.
Food security is a key factor not only in meeting basic needs, but
also in mitigating tensions in camps where food shortages can
strain relationships between camp managers and the
population,” says IOM Dili Chief of Mission, Luiz Vieira.




Edio Da Costa, a Comoro airport IDP camp resident and leader
agrees. “When we first arrived we had nothing – no
food, water, or shelter. Knowing very little about what was
happening outside the camp, it was difficult for me and the other
camp volunteers to know where to go to get what we needed –
and tensions grew within the camp from fears that we wouldn’t
have enough to go around,” he says. “But after the
first distribution of food and other items, people began to realize
our dedication as camp leaders, and from that we began to form a
relationship of mutual trust and respect with the people living
here.”



In addition to food distribution, IOM directly manages IDP camps at
Comoro airport and the National Stadium. It also provides camp
management support to all 66 Dili-based IDP centres through the
Site Liaison Support (SLS) network.



For more information, please contact:



Angela Sherwood

IOM Dili

Tel.: +670 723 1576

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