iklan

SOCIAL AFFAIRS, DILI

Fears for 200 Families Along Comoro River as Rains Arrive

Fears for 200 Families Along Comoro River as Rains Arrive

Authorities have "alerted" residents to move their homes, but the Comoro River community says they have nowhere else to go. (Image/Osorio Marques)

DILI, 7 January 2019 (TATOLI) – Authorities say more than 200 family homes built along Dili’s Comoro River are at risk of flooding, and have repeated calls for them to move out.

The usually-dry river can swell during heavy summer rains, such as on December 28 when 11 homes were reportedly washed away in the suburb of Manleuana.

The Chief of Comoro Village, Eurico da Costa de Jesus, said the families had been warned last year their homes should be moved, or face the threat of inundation.

Some 11 homes were washed away and another 200 damaged in the flash flood at Manleuana last month (Eugenio Pereira)

“We have always advised them [to move] but they said there is no place for them [to go], so they have to build their house in the river… The total number of families before was 47, but today it’s more than 200,” said the village chief.

The Secretary of State for Civil Protection, Alexandrino Xavier de Araújo, said authorities had “alerted” residents many times before.

“We have already in the period of heavy rainfall and strong winds. Therefore, continue to call for all the people in Timor-Leste to move away from places at risk of natural disasters,” Secretary Araújo said.

But resident Pasquela de Sousa told TATOLI her family built their house in the Comoro river area because they could not find any land elsewhere. Although she is conscious of the flooding risk.

“We live in river area by our own; no one ask us to live here. We live here because our family economy forces us to,” said Ms Sousa.

She said had bought the land the build her house from her neighbour for $800.

Comoro Village Chief Eurico da Costa de Jesus said to avoid another disaster, the Ministry Public Works, the Department of Land and Property, as well as Secretary Araújo himself must find the families a place to live away from the river.

“[They must]…secure our communities that live along the river edge,” he said.

First published in Tetum as: Governu “Alerta” ba Povu Hadook-An husi Fatin Risku Dezastre; and Família 200-resin Hela iha Mota Comoro Ninin Tanba Rai Laiha

Journalist:
Osória Marques
Editors: Francisco Simões; Robert Baird
Translation: Nelia Boges

iklan
iklan

Leave a Reply

iklan
error: Content is protected !!