Timor-Leste Situation Reports – Humanitarian Country Team

UN Resident Coordinator’s Office Situation Report No. 3, as of 2 September 2016

Read the full report here: Situation Report No. 3

Highlights

In the aftermath of the 2015 to 2016 El Niño-induced drought, 120,000 people remain severely affected in Lautém, Viqueue, Baucau and Covalima municipalities and Oe-Cusse Special Economic Zone.
Food, water and sanitation, health, nutrition, livelihood and education support are priority needs.
Rainfall levels remain below historical annual average. Erratic weather has resulted in a significant decrease of cereal production which may further strain the food security and coping capacities of already vulnerable rural households.
The Government of Timor-Leste continues to coordinate the El Niño response to address the food security situation. Humanitarian partners are providing targeted support to the local response.
The Emergency Relief Coordinator allocated US$$846,700 from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund to enable partners to respond to the nutrition needs of nearly 21,000 people.

Based on recent assessment results, 4 municipalities and
1 Special Economic Zone (ZEESM) have been identified as worst affected by El Niño: Covalima, Lautem, Viqueque, Baucau, and Oe-cusse. 120,000 people are severely affected in these locations, where the total population is 400,000 people.
On 12 April, the Council of Ministers (CoM) was last updated on the impacts caused by the climatic phenomenon by the Minister of Interior, who coordinates the
in-country response and facilitates exchange of information.
The Government has identified 6-7 warehouses in the most affected areas, which will be stocked with food supplies through a coordinated approach by 10 Government Ministries, led by Ministry of Interior.
After the last HCT meeting on 1 April 2016, the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office, in coordination with the Ministry of Interior and the HCT, has developed an Emergency Response Plan (ERP) to outline the problems, possible response interventions and timeframe for action. Overall funding requirement for the response is estimated at USD 25 million.

The 2015/2016 El Niño has peaked with a return to neutral conditions expected during the second quarter of 2016. The after-effects on people and their livelihood are critical.
In some areas, it has rained up to 68 per cent less between October 2015 and January 2016, compared to last year. Livelihoods in the eastern and northern parts are severely affected, with large numbers of livestock dying in Lautém and Baucau sub-districts.
According to the preliminary results of a livelihood resilience analysis, about 400,000 people are estimated to be severely or highly affected. Coastal areas are worst affected, with delayed or stressed crop planting, reduced water access and lack of food.
The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Environment (MCIE) has procured 9, 000 tons of rice to respond to increasing market prices due to food shortage. The Ministry of Interior (MoI) is coordinating plans for drilling water pumps in Suai municipality, as well as the construction of five additional warehouses (location is to be determined).
The Minister of Interior coordinates the in-country response and facilitates exchange of information. On 23 February, the Minister last updated the Council of Ministers (CoM) on the impacts caused by the climatic phenomenon, and the measures which are being developed.
The Minister of Interior and Minister of Social Solidarity have recently discussed the current situation with the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) and Development Partners (DPs) on 26 February