UN to Maintain Financial Support
Friday, 19 January, 2007 | 11:59 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: The United Nations Mission at Timor Leste yesterday (01/18) announced the plan to maintain international financial support of US$16.6 million to recover the condition of the world's youngest country that was devastated by political crisis last year.

The funds will be mainly aimed at aiding nearly 100 thousand refugees to return to their homes.

The funds will also be used for running 31 humanity projects that the network of ten UN organizations, the International Organization for Migration, four non-governmental organizations and Timor Leste's Red Cross carry out.

A Special Representative of UN Secretary General at Timor Leste Atul Khare said that international financial support that were carried out last year garnered around Rp215 billion.

“This has enabled us to provide temporary protection, food, water, and sanitation to the refugees until the end of last year," he said.

The next financial support will be held during January-July of this year in Switzerland and Timor Leste. The Australian government has immediately stated its commitment to help.

Special Representative of UN Secretary General for Government Support, Development and Issues on Humanity Finn Reske-Nielsen said that his party is waiting for a response from other governments. It is possible that the results will be announced next week.

Timor Leste's Prime Minister Jose Ramos Horta stated that humanitarian aid for refugees that are willing to stay at the refugee camp will stop in February.

The government will only focus on those who return to their land of origin. “They will be helped with materials and food while waiting for the rehabilitation of homes that were destroyed by the crisis,” said Horta.

SARITO