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.
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.
Labels: Claudia
posted by Claudia Abate at 7:32 PM
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