DATE=9/17/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-N - TIMOR AID (L - ONLY)
NUMBER=2-254032
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: United Nations officials in New York say they
are making progress in delivering emergency relief
supplies to displaced people East Timor. Air drops of
food and other supplies began today (Friday) and are
scheduled to continue through next week. More from
our U-N correspondent Max Ruston.
TEXT: U-N coordinator for Humanitarian Affairs for
Asia David McLachlan-Karr announced details of plans
to bring food, water, shelter, medical assistance,
education, and protection to refugees in East Timor
and neighboring West Timor. He says deliveries of
emergency food supplies began Friday with air-drops
and will continue into next week.
/// McLachlan-Karr act ///
They were successfully carried out today
(Friday) and we expect that a series of airdrops
will continue to coincide with the arrival of
300 thousand humanitarian daily rations supplied
by the government of the United States and also
the high protein biscuits which, as the
spokesman mentioned, are being transported by
the World Food Program from South Africa.
/// end act ///
Responsibility for different aspects of relief
assistance have been given to a variety of U-N and
international agencies. The U-N Children's Fund,
UNICEF, will oversee health, education and care for
children and the elderly. Oxfam will be responsible
for water sanitation. The World Food Program will
handle food and logistics. Shelter, protection and
non-food items will be dealt with by the U-N High
Commissioner or Refugees.
Mr. McLachlan-Karr says it is hoped that this sectoral
approach to providing relief will improve efficiency.
But most important, the U-N official says, is the need
for security, so that aid workers can safely carry out
their work.
/// McLachlan-Karr act ///
Obviously the biggest questions for the
provision of assistance on the ground are going
to be security and logistics and we are looking
obviously for donor governments to provide
logistical capabilities to offer us to deliver
assistance. Overland it can be difficult. The
train is difficult, there is a lot of damage as
a result of the violence and much of it will
have to be achieved by helicopter.
/// End act ///
Mr. McLachlan-Karr says aid workers are receiving
relatively good cooperation from the Indonesian
military, which has been blamed for encouraging and
supporting the violence in East Timor. He says
Indonesian forces have provided escorts for some
deliveries of relief supplies and given quick approval
for air drops.
Violence erupted in East Timor earlier this month.
The unrest was triggered by an August 30th poll in
which 80 percent of the territory's voters called for
independence from Indonesia. Indonesia invaded the
former Portuguese colony in 1975. (Signed)
NEB/UN/MPR/PT
17-Sep-1999 18:17 PM LOC (17-Sep-1999 2217 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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