DILI, april 9 2021 (TATOLI) – The Government Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (MNEC), express sincere gratitude to its counterparts and other who have extended their solidarity and sympathy to the people and government of Timor-Leste during the difficult time shortly after the country hit by the heavy floods and landslides.
Following the statement from yesterday, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Adaljiza Magno has received several messages of solidarity and condolences from her counterparts in Portugal, Australia, New Zealand, Maldives and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Secretary General of the United Nations, via the Permanent Mission of Timor-Leste to the United Nations in New York, the Executive Secretary of the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP), the European External Action Services, resident and non-resident Ambassadors also expressed their solidarity for the damage to property and loss of life due to the last week’s natural disaster in the country.
The President of the Republic of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, sent a message to the President of Republic, Francisco Guterres ‘Lú Olo’, expressing deep sadness over the loss of lives and property caused by the natural calamity, landslide and flood in Timor-Leste recently.
“I became aware of the tragic effects of the floods that affected a large part of the capital and caused the loss of human lives and major damage to infrastructures, including those essential to the fight against covid-19”, President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said.
The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, on behalf of the organization, sent a written message expressing solidarity with the Timorese population.
“I am writing on behalf of the United Nations Secretariat-General, through the Chief of Staff in Timor-Leste, Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, to offer the deepest condolences for the tragic loss of life caused by the flash floods in Dili,” said the General Secretary of the UN.
Following the reports from the Authority The number of people killed in the flooding caused by the torrential rains, rose to 42 and 10.000 households have been displaced with 9.779 residents across Dili were forced to evacuate to safer places.
Journalist: Jose de Sá
Editor: Rafael Belo
