ORIGINAL-

This violence, which involved F-FDTL and PNTL officers as well as armed civilians, led to the deaths of civilians and security personnel, the destruction of homes, a breakdown of law and order and government functions, looting of government property and the displacement of over 100,000 people.

Many of the displaced are still living in the makeshift IDP camps in Dili or in camps or with host families in the districts as they feel unable to move on as their homes are either destroyed, occupied by others or unsafe to return to. The Government and international agencies and NGOs are continuing to provide food and other services to the IDPs. There are programs for rebuilding houses and building new transitional shelter sites but progress is slow. Over time living conditions at the camps are deteriorating and their ongoing presence brings risks of further disasters of disease outbreaks as well as more violence as political alliances and gang activity are strong within the camps. Donor fatigue is also setting in. The need to manage new displacements resulting from fresh outbreaks of conflict would fall on an already pressured situation.

Due to the fact that the ongoing presence of IDPs has been the major enduring effect of the crisis, the disaster response being managed by the MTRC has had an overwhelming focus on managing, supporting and ‘re-inserting’ the displaced. In terms of preparedness for further outbreaks of conflict, however, the current situation leaves some gaps in planning and management functions.