At a glance: Timor-Leste

Funding appeals and humanitarian action updates

The ongoing civil unrest in the lead-up to the presidential elections scheduled for 9 April 2007 and parliamentary elections in May 2007 – and the extremely volatile security situation in Timor-Leste have gravely affected the well-being and livelihoods of children and women throughout the country. The unrest and gang-related violence which first surfaced in April 2006, led to the displacement of 178,000 people as well as the burning and looting of houses and public buildings including schools. By the end of February 2007, there were still approximately 100,000 Internally Displaced People (IDPs),- 30,000 in the capital and some 70,000 in the districts. More than 40 per cent of the population in Timor-Leste live below the poverty line. The combined effects of poor environmental sanitation, frequent and severe infectious diseases, persistent malnutrition and parasites have led to an under-five mortality of 136 deaths per 1,000 live births. More than one in ten children is acutely malnourished and almost one in two suffers from chronic malnutrition.
UNICEF requires US$ 1,534,080 to address the needs of children and women in the areas of Health, Water and Sanitation, Education & Protection.
Timor Leste Donor Update 21 March 2007 [pdf]