DILI, 25 june 2021 (TATOLI) – The Secretary of State for Cooperatives (SEKOOP), today distributes basic staple food to 273 flood-affected families in the 30 de Agosto sub-village of Comoro Village, in Dili municipality.
Rice, noodles, cooking oil, soaps, and detergent were distributed to the families who had been severely affected by the april flash flood in the 30 de Agosto hamlet.
Speaking at the distribution of the staple food, the Secretary of State for Cooperatives (SECOOP), Elizário Ferreira said the support was given to the flood-affected families as solidarity support by the SECOOP.
“This support is not part of the Government Basic Staple Food Program. It is considered as solidarity support given to flood affected families whose houses were destroyed during the april flood,” Ferreira made the comments at the office of the 30 de Agosto Sub-Village, in Dili, today.
The Chief of the 30 de Agosto Sub-villages, Agostinho da Costa thanked SECOOP for the distribution of the staple food to his communities.
“You know, five people in this hamlet lost their lives during the april flood, including a child who is still missing. We also have 17 houses that were completely destroyed. More than 1000 families are registered here in this sub-village, and of this number 273 households were selected to receive the staple food as their houses were affected by the floods,” said Costa.
Ferreira said the Secretary of State for Civil Protection (SEPC) continued collecting the data of those houses that had been destroyed during the floods, saying the government would support reconstructing the damaged houses.
“The government will construct houses for those communities who have lost their houses during the flood. And for the communities to be safe, the government won’t allow communities to continue living in those areas that are prone to natural disasters,” said Ferreira.
He said the houses would be constructed in one place for those affected families to move in to have a good life.
According to SEPC’s latest data, around 30.207 households were affected by the april flash flood, including 24 deaths, and 14 victims were still missing.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Rafy Belo
