Report

UNICEF Timor-Leste 2021 Floods Response

Highlights

Heavy rains across the country from 29 march to 4 April 2021 resulted in flash floods and landslides affecting all 13 municipalities in Timor-Leste to varying degrees, with the capital Dili and the surrounding low-lying areas being affected the worst.

Flooding and landslides caused 42 fatalities and affected 31,029 households across Timor-Leste. Of those, 82% - or 25,350 households - were in Dili municipality. 13,554 people were internally displaced in Dili, and 43 evacuation facilities were set up across the municipality. This natural disaster took place in the context of rising COVID-19 cases.

UNICEF started providing immediate humanitarian assistance, thanks to pre-positionned non-food items. UNICEF supported the Government in various sectors, acting as a sector lead for WASH, nutrition, and education, and as a sub-sector lead for child protection.

UNICEF’s response enabled the provision of clean water to 14,010 people, medical consultations for 1,128 under-five children, malnutrition screening for 484 under-five children and referral for treatment when needed, psychosocial support activities for 4,009 children in child-friendly spaces in evacuation centres and communities, and learning activities for 460 children and life-skilled based education for 316 adolescents and youth in evacuation centres.