DILI, 11 october 2022 (TATOLI) – The United Nations International Organization for Migration (IOM) is committed to helping Timor-Leste repatriate Timorese citizens who failed to find the job in Portugal to return to their country, The Director General of Protocol and Consular Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (MNEC), José António Amorim Dias, has said.
This commitment is made by IOM at the meeting with the Ambassador of Timor-Leste in Portugal, Isabel Guterres, and the IOM representative in Portugal, Marta Bronzin.
“IOM wishes to help repatriate our citizens and they will voluntarily assist Timorese who wishes to return to Timor-Leste,” Diaz said.
Amorim Dias added the Portuguese Government has been established a working group to provide humanitarian assistance to the Timorese in Portugal, the working group composed of the Embassy of Timor-Leste, the Migration High Commissioner, the Portuguese Institute of Employment and Vocational Training, the Lisbon City Council, the Foreigners, and Borders Service, the National Republican Guard, and Caritas.
Concerning this issue, the Representatives of the Timor-Leste embassy in Portugal, the Secretary of State for Citizenship and Equality, and the Secretary of State for the Portuguese Community met to discuss the delicate situation experienced by several Timorese in Portugal and seek possible solutions.
“The authorities of both countries are working together to address the problems that have been experienced by our citizens in Portugal”, he said.
José António Amorim Dias highlighted that there are currently around five thousand Timorese in Portuguese territory.
“In addition, 20 Timorese youths tried to enter British territory, but the London immigration authorities deported them to Lisbon”, he said.
Question about the situation experienced by Timorese in Portugal, where according to information spread in social media about some sleeping in the open areas, Amorim Dias said, following the Timorese embassy in Portugal, the Lisbon authorities had found the solution to this situation.
“Today, most of the Timorese have been resettled, thanks to the coordination between the Timorese and Portuguese executives and the church our residents are safe,” he explained.
Amorim Dias admitted that there were still some Timorese living in the gardens, saying they had fled from places provided by the Portuguese government.
He emphasized that the Directorate General of Consular Affairs maintains regular contact with the Timor-Leste representative in Portugal to find out the situation and location of the Timorese.
He also revealed that Timor-Leste’s ambassador in Portugal also met with ecclesiastical organizations, such as Santa Casa de Misericórdia, to involve them in humanitarian assistance to the Timorese.
Journalist: Afonso do Rosario
Editor: Maria Auxiliadora/Nelia B.
Translation:Camilo de Sousa
