DILI, 19 april 2023 – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have signed a partnership agreement to jointly support the Government and the people of Timor-Leste in preventing and responding to protection issues during emergencies.
This regional initiative, “Addressing Protection Risks in Humanitarian Settings in Timor-Leste and Papua New Guinea”, funded by the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA), aims to improve mechanisms and capacities of stakeholders to address protection risks during periods of flooding, mudslides, and other climate-induced catastrophes.
“Building on IOM’s existing efforts around internal displacement and protection of the most vulnerable populations, we are committed to providing humanitarian response” stated Ihma Shareef, IOM Chief of Mission in Timor-Leste. “We are proud to partner with UNICEF on this crucial project to address protection risks in humanitarian settings that Timor-Leste has been facing in recent years.”
Timor-Leste is highly prone to natural disasters, which often resulted in heightened risks of injuries, loss of lives, damage to public infrastructure, access restrictions, loss of assets, and disruptions to household livelihoods. For example, close to 33,835 households were affected by floods that swept across the country.
This collaboration will help to develop immediate and long-term solutions to ensure that the safety and protection of vulnerable populations, especially children, are prioritized during any emergency,” said UNICEF Representative, Bilal Durrani. “Through this project, we will support Government and other stakeholders to speedily identify, treat, and prevent protection issues among vulnerable groups during emergencies.”
The Timor-Leste Joint Appeal & Flood Response Plan estimated that of the people affected by Typhoon Seroja flooding, 48.7 percent were female, 21.1 percent were children (aged 0-19), 13.5 percent were elderly people (aged 65+), while 15 percent were persons with disabilities. The disruption of protection mechanisms services during emergencies, coupled with the separation of families and displacement, often increases Gender Based Violence and other protection concerns and the separation of families and displacement among these vulnerable groups.
In Timor-Leste, major challenges exist in disaster risk management, including limitations in social safety nets, capacity to respond, and infrastructure. Through this project, UNICEF and IOM will support the Government of Timor-Leste in further strengthening its system, building capacity, and raising awareness to address protection risks.
Addressing protection risks within humanitarian settings is fundamental to achieving many of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, including Goal One on Poverty Eradication, Goal Five on Gender Equality, and Goal 13 on Climate Change Action.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges
