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Our response to the floods in Dili, Timor-Leste

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Oxfam’s emergency response snapshot:

  • Almost half of the population of Timor-Leste’s capital has been impacted by severe flooding, according to government figures, after heavy rains fell on Dili caused by Cyclone Seroja.
  • Oxfam in Timor-Leste’s Associate Country Director, Annie Sloman, said the impact of climate change was undeniable.
  • At least 36 people were killed by the flooding and landslides caused by the rains, and 10 people remain missing.
  • While thorough assessments are still being completed, the number of people impacted is expected to be more than 100,000, which is close to 10% of the country’s population.


How you can help Oxfam’s response in Timor-Leste:

By donating to our International Crisis Fund, you allow us to respond rapidly to emergencies around the globe. As soon as a disaster strikes, we’ve got the funds at hand to move quickly – and save lives. Please donate today to support our vital, life-saving work.

 

Oxfam’s response to the Flood Emergency in Dili, Timor-Leste

08 April 2021

Supporting people with special needs.




Procurement has been undertaken to purchase items that support vulnerable groups in camps (pregnant women, people with disabilities and senior members). Such items include dignity kits to women and girls.


Oxfam and the local partner, Ra’es Hadomi Timor Oan (RHTO), has coordinated with UNICEF to provide an accessible toilet for people with disabilities.


Oxfam has been playing a key role in coordinating among INGO actors, leading on sharing information from civil protection meetings and updates, including advising on good practice in engaging with government.


To date we have supported 217 households.

06 April 2021

Rains have stopped and the immediate disaster has passed.

Timor-Leste Floods Oxfam response


Rains have stopped and the immediate disaster has passed with flooding now having subsided.


There is significant infrastructure damage in Dili and other parts of the country with loss of homes, bridges and roads damaged. There are currently 8000+ people (based on AHP evacuation camp assessment on 6 April 2021) in 10 formal evacuation camps in Dili.


Oxfam is the only International organization that is supporting local organiations space to join the assessment and response. Oxfam is working closely with AHP agencies (Care, Plan, World Vision, Caritas, Child Fund (consortium members with Plan) and ADRA (consortium members with Caritas) in undertaking the response.


Daily coordination meetings are held, enabling coordination with UN agencies, government and other development partners, including Australian embassy representatives.

04 April 2021

Covid-19 adding extra complexity.

This flood has occurred almost one year after a previous large scale flood in Dili. The government is requesting support from international agencies to run the response.

The current COVID-19 community transmission situation adds complexity and risk to the response. People in evacuation centres are not following covid precautions, very few are wearing masks, there is limited to no social distancing and there is no available clean water for handwashing.

 

How you can help our response in Timor-Leste

When emergencies strike, like the unfolding situation in Dili, Timor-Leste, Oxfam is there, on the ground, providing life-saving food, clean water, shelter, hygiene kits, cash assistance and other essential items. But we can’t do this without your vital support.


Donate now