Cruz Vermehla Timor-Leste

On Sunday 26 August I visited the Headquarters of the Timor Leste Red Cross, locally known as Cruz Vermehla Timor-Leste. Earlier this year, this chapter of the Red Cross was formally admitted to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

Secretary-General Isabel Guterres and Vice President Zacarias da Costa, took me on a tour of their premises that was given to them by the International Committee of the Red Cross in 2001. Within its premises, the Austrian Red Cross sublets space and the Federation of the Red Cross uses offices as well.

The Timor Leste Red Cross has about 10,000 members and roughly 300 active volunteers spread out within many of the districts, such as Ermera, Aleiu, Bacau, Los Palos, and Same, home to the future Monaco Red Cross sponsored Maternity Clinic.

The main activities of the Timor Headquarters are to coordinate services and programmes that are primarily divided into water and sanitation issues and community based first aid. The water and sanitation issues include activities that build latrines, canalization of water in remote areas and the building of wells in response to strong floods. The have a community water supply and sanitation project that help to combat diseases like malaria and diarrhea and they conduct first aid programmes that teach citizens how to recognize poisonous infections and treat them. There is a strong emphasis on teaching mothers these skills.

The current headquarters Timor Leste Red Cross has a storage facility for wells and ICRC distribution supplies and piping. The local Red Cross devised a strategic plan that includes operational strategies and the hope to move offices to a larger vacated building that we also visited.

As a result of the recent crisis situation, the Timor Red Cross has opened its doors to local workers who lost their homes. They are currently residing in the offices until they feel safe enough to move back home or rebuild their houses.

The Cruz Vermehla is following the construction of the Monaco Red Cross Maternity Clinic in Same with great interest and looks forward to meeting their fellow Red Cross representatives from this friendly country with the hope of strengthen further cooperation in the future.

Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)

Today, 27 August, Prime Minister Jose Ramos Horta invited me to visit some one of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Camps at Canossian Sisters Convent in Dili. We first celebrated a moving mass with the residents of this camp, conducted in Tetum, Portugese and English.

The IDP Camp is run by Mother Guilhermina Marcal, who has worked nearly 24 hours each day since the crisis in Timor-Leste earlier this year. She was explaining to me that the greatest challenge is security of the up to 10,000 persons who come to the camps. Some come just for food and others stay on the premises, living in tents.

After the mass, the Prime Minister was invited to hear some music performed by the young people in the camp and was also given the opportunity to address the IDPs. Some of the IDPs were able to raise their concerns to the Prime Minister whereby he responded.

The Prime Minister’s visit put a human face on the man who is leading the government of Timor-Leste and boosted morale for the many who are suffering in crowded living conditions. He encouraged the IDPs to start thinking about moving back to their homes, whereby the government is doing its best to provide security to the districts.

Despite the sufferings of the Canossian IDP Camp, the persons were visibly inspired by the Prime Minister’s visit, all of whom were crowded around him during his 2 hour stay.

It was a moving experience to witness both the leadership of a man dedicated to his people and the response of the displaced persons through the smiles on their faces, especially the children, to whom the Prime Minister devoted extra care. If there ever was any question about his dedication, one need only look to the Prime Minister’s own residence, where at the height of the crisis, he took in 470 displaced persons. He guaranteed their safety, provided shelter, food and medical care and until now he still has 30 displaced people living on his property. This fact is little known, which makes it all the more sincere.

The next stop was the Government Palace where a special ceremony was held for the American Navy Ship that brought Project Hope personnel to Timor-Leste. This project provides free medical care, especially to the IDPs, during its short mission here in Dili.

This ceremony was attended by members of the diplomatic corps and Timor-Leste’s governmental ministers.

Fundacao Xanana Gusmao

On Saturday, August 26, President Gusmao chaired a meeting in his office with representatives of his foundation and me, in my capacity as Executive Director of the Foundation for Post Conflict Development. We tried to identify what the best use of FPCD funds, raised prior to my departure to Timor-Leste and transmitted by me to the President on 23 August. It was brought to my attention that many donors have funded the internally displaced persons camps and that the FPCD donation would be better used if it were put toward a programme that will alleviate some of the issues once the displaced return to their homes. The people living in camps are often better cared for than if they were at home, since meals are guaranteed. We agreed to explore different options so that the FPCD funds will have a maximum impact in the community.

We also discussed many issues related to enhancing cooperation between the two sister foundations, such as cross promotion of each other’s work, engaging in joint fundraising activities and identifying new projects to work toward.

The Road to Same (pronounced “Samay”)

On 24 August, the Ministry of Health of Timor-Leste organized a field visit for me, in my capacity as Project Coordinator for the Monaco Red Cross, Prince Rainier III Maternity Clinic. The Road to Same was long and bumpy yet breathtaking, filled with dramatic landscapes. It took four hours from the capital city of Dili, with one rest stop.

When we arrived at the District Administrator’s office, we had a quick introduction before a briefing was presented to me on the status of maternal health. Present were midwives and equipment technicians.

After the briefing we toured the existing Community Health Clinic followed by a meeting with local pregnant women varying in pregnancy months. One of the critical issues for women in Timor-Leste is breaking the tradition of birthing at home. In many cases, it is out of necessity because medical facilities are too far away - the terrain in Timor is rugged, mountainous and there is a lack of transportation. Most people in rural areas walk to where they need to go, if they are lucky they have a motorbike. The second aspect is convincing the mother to seek supervised medical attention. The Ministry of Health has started a wide spread campaign to this end with their department of Mother-Child Health.

In this vein, I was able to ask the local women about how many children they had and if they will use the Monaco Red Cross Clinic. I explained why the Monaco Red Cross chose to engage in this project - It is important to not only have the infrastructure of a dedicated maternity clinic, but that the facility has an impact in the community for future generations. The feedback was positive and those present assured me that they would indeed use the clinic. I asked them for their assistance in spreading the importance of neonatal, maternal, and post natal care for the mother and child.

The Monaco Red Cross Project is second in a series of new initiatives for the Ministry of Health in Timor-Leste. By having a dedicated clinic, specifically for neonatal, maternal and immediate post natal care, women will have more of an incentive to seek medical assistance. The Maternity Clinic will be run by a network of volunteer midwives. In my meeting with women, I learned that all of those present received training with Indonesian schools for 4 years and have been practicing on an average of 10 years.

One of the concerns of the pregnant women was to be able to expand the capacity of midwives and training new ones, especially with a growing population – a valid concern.

Next on the agenda was a visit to the Prince Rainier III Maternity Clinic. The building is nearly completed. The construction company is finalizing the interior work and the next phase is to procure the equipment. The Clinic will accommodate up to 6 inpatient women in a small ward. There are pre-birthing rooms and one birthing room, offices and bathrooms. The clinic is adequate to service the 25,000 inhabitants of the sub district in which it resides. The clinic is expected to be completed before the end of 2006.

The visit to Same was concluded with a lunch with all of the participants.

Dr. Rui Maria de Araujo, Minister of Health

In my capacity as Coordinator for the Monaco Red Cross Prince Rainier III Maternity Clinic, I met with the Minister of Health of Timor-Leste, Dr. Rui Maria de Araujo. We discussed the impact the clinic will have in the community. The Monaco Red Cross Clinic will be the 2nd of its kind here in Timor-Leste. The concept of the materntiy clinic is to help change the way mothers are delivering children. The maternal and infant mortality rate is vey high in this country. Because current medical facilities are too far away from rural areas, there are cases where mothers die en route to receiving medical attention.

The Monaco Red Cross Maternity Clinic will provide ante-natal care, allow the expectant mother to wait some days, then give birth under medical supervision, and receive post natal care. The Clinic will be run by a network of volunteers coordinated by the Mother-Child Health Department within the Ministry of Health.

Tomorrow we have a field visit to the Clinic in Same District whereby I will meet with midwives and expectant mothers who will benefit from the Clinic when it is opened later this year.

President Gusmao

Today, in my capacity as Executive Director of the Foundation for Post Conflict Development, I presented President Xanana Gusmao the FPCD donation of funds raised in the last month to our sister Foundation. President Gusmao was sincerely greatful for the attention of the FPCD and all the friends and supporters of the New York Foundation for their solidarity and support in Timor-Leste's time of need. On Saturday we will meet again with other members of the Fundacao Xanana Gusmao to determine the best way to utilize the funds.

President Gusmao and I also discussed many issues related to the current crisis in the context of his plans to create a Special Secretariat that will be coordinated with the Government and the United Nations Development Programme. This Secretariat will be responsible for integrating the views of various actors in order to arrive at conciliation within the communities. It is projected to be a structured process that will have a proposed timeline in order to keep the work on track. The main goals of this programme is to achieve mutual acceptance, despite individual differences, while working together to rebuild the houses that were burnt down during the recent uprisings. The FPCD will follow this programme closely and present more information as it becomes available.

I also presented President Gusmao a copy of the signed Memorandum of Understanding between FPCD and Grafica Patria, underlining the Foundation's committment toward post conflict development in Timor-Leste through the creation of meaningful employment.

Grafica Patria

22 August 2006

Dili, Timor-Leste

As Executive Director of the Foundation for Post Conflict Development, my first order of business was to meet with Grafica Patria and sign a Memorandum of Understanding that illustrates the FPCD commitment to providing meaningful employment in post conflict Timor-Leste.

By signing the Memorandum of Understanding, Grafica Patria Director E.J.A. Widjaja, assures the FPCD of not only providing efficient, quality service, but that this printing company will comply with Timor-Leste’s constitution and Labour codes with respect to human and labour rights.

The relationship between FPCD and Grafica Patrica takes effect immediately with the first printing project, the Foundation newsletter, expected to be completed by 30 August.

By taking the lead in this endeavor, the FPCD hopes to inspire other entities to consider having their printing needs met with Grafica Patria.

Check back for photos soon.

Travel to Timor-Leste

FPCD announces Executive Director will Travel to Timor-Leste.

From 21 - 30 August. FPCD Executive Director, Claudia Abate, will be in
Timor-Leste to assess the post crisis situation. Due to the recent civil
strife in the country, a massive humanitarian emergency has arisen,
creating internal refugees living in tents in the capital city of Dili. To
help alleviate some of the suffering, the Executive Director will present a
donation from the FPCD to President Gusmao, founder and patron of Fundacao
Xanana Gusmao.

The Executive Director will also be formalizing a relationship with Grafica
Patria, a local printing press, where all of FPCD's printing supplies will
be made. This will allow the FPCD to fulfill its mission of generating
meaningful employment. While the impact is at first glance small, the FPCD
hopes to inspire other organizations to consider have their printing needs
met in Timor-Leste or other post conflict countries.

Further to the above mentioned capacity, FPCD executive Director is also the
Project Coordinator for the Monaco Red Cross Maternity Clinic in Same
District, Timor-Leste. Ms Abate will be visiting the Clinic to check on the
status of construction in preparation for the opening later this year. Also
in this regard, the Executive Director will be meeting with the Minister
and Vice Minister of Health and local mid-wives and woman who will benefit
from the Maternity Clinic.

In Timor-Leste, the Executive Director will be meeting President Xanana
Gusmao, Prime Minister Jose Ramos Horta and new Foreign Minister, Jose
Luis Guterres. Ms Abate will be "blogging" about her activities in
Timor-Leste whereby supporters are invited back to the website to follow
her journey.