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reported by Sanjay Sojwal, photojournalist, WV Asia Pacific Regional Communications
Kupang, West Timor - A World Vision team which returned to Kupang briefly today to replenish supplies reported that World Vision has installed four water tanks, each with a capacity of 1,100 litres, to provide drinking water to the East Timorese in Atambua. Another four tanks with total capacity of 7,000 litres are now being transported to Atambua from West Timor’s capital, Kupang, and are expected to be operational within the next two days. World Vision also has begun exploring sites to as many as 15 wells to provide clean drinking water to the refugees on this island which has always suffered from water shortages. Refugees say their immediate needs include water and sanitation facilities.
World Vision staff in Kupang are working late hours preparing 2,000 “family kits,” which will include a plastic bucket and cooking pot, 2 sarongs, 5 sets of plates, spoons and cups and soap. “At the moment the families have their own food bought in sacks. However, in one week food stocks will deplete and they will need food,” said Yunus David, World Vision Indonesia Commodities Manager. World Vision is positioned to meet the food needs of these refugees as well.
The situation in Atambua, 315 kilometres west of West Timor’s capital, Kupang, is tense but safe for Indonesians. For security reasons foreigners are advised not to visit Atambua. All relief programmes in the area are now being run by Indonesians.
The refugee influx in to this town bordering East Timor continues. The refugees have now set up radio networks and are trying to track down their family members who were left behind when they fled East Timor. Mr. David reported that the refugees living in tents were physically in good health, though were preoccupied thinking of the their stranded relatives. Mr. David described that the children in the camps were in good health and high spirits.
The situation in Atambua is not expected to improve until all relatives of the refugees have been evacuated from Dili. Refugees continue to stream into Atambua.
In East Timor, Dili is now the collecting point for the stranded East Timorese, especially those from the mountains. In the next few days an estimated 10,000 are expected to take the two-day truck journey to Atambua. Mr. David said that each truck is now accompanied by armed soldiers as fighting between the pro-Independence and pro-Jakarta groups continues along the road to Dili. In just one week, Atambua’s population has swollen from 12,000 to 74,000. The new arrivals are straining the town's infrastructure and resources. A total of 125,000 East Timorese have now sought shelter in West Timor.
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