Chinese fund supports UNICEF in providing emergency assistance to children affected by landslides in Timor-Leste

Editor's note: With support from the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund (GDSSCF), which is administered by the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), UNICEF has delivered emergency assistance to children in Timor-Leste and nutritional aid for women and young children in flood-affected communities, including procurement of essential supplies, malnutrition screening and personnel training.

Lemorana, a village nestled in the mountain slopes on the outskirts of Dili, the capital of Timor-Leste, has been home to Anna Dos Santos and her family for more than three decades. Living in harmony with nature, the community has traditionally relied on clear mountain springs for water and forest fruit trees for sustenance.

However, Anna never expected to witness a devastating landslide that swept torrents of mud, rocks, and uprooted trees into the village, burying their modest homes under layers of soil and debris.

Across Timor-Leste, a total of 30,367 families suffered similar destruction and were compelled to evacuate to temporary shelters. By then, heavy rainfall had persisted for more than six consecutive days. 

"What worried us most was that rivers would overflow and children would be unable to attend school," Anna said. She never imagined that the scenic landscape surrounding Lemorana would one day turn into a source of disaster.

Timor-Leste faces significant danger from natural disasters, particularly frequent floods and landslides. These disasters often strike in succession, compounding the vulnerabilities of affected populations—especially children and their families. 

In April 2021, the country endured its worst flooding and landslides in decades, severely impacting already fragile communities. In addition to losing their homes, residents were forced to survive in environments where vital public infrastructure—including water supply and sanitation systems—had been damaged or destroyed.

After spending over a month in a temporary shelter, Anna's family returned to Lemorana to rebuild their lives. Although they quickly erected temporary walls and roofs, they discovered that the landslide had completely disrupted the village's already precarious water and sanitation infrastructure.

The communal toilet was buried under debris, forcing many to relieve themselves outdoors. Main water pipelines were washed away, and both river and spring water became turbid and discolored. "We could no longer access clean drinking water and had to rely on this contaminated water for cooking, drinking and cleaning," Anna said.

At the time, her children were very young—her youngest daughter, Dominguez, was only 6 years old. Due to the poor sanitary conditions, children frequently suffered from diarrhea, coughs and fever. "Poor hygiene put our entire community at constant risk of disease outbreaks," she said.

Today, Anna expresses deep appreciation for the ongoing support provided to the community. This assistance has not only helped restore essential hygiene practices but also contributed to gradual improvements in the village's environmental health conditions.

With funding from the GDSSCF through the CIDCA, UNICEF has partnered closely with the Ministry of Health of Timor-Leste to assist 2,000 affected families across four municipalities—Dili, Ainaro, Baucau and Ermera. The assistance focused on restoring damaged water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure within communities and strengthening local resilience to future disasters.

Under this program, UNICEF procured 25 water tanks, each with a capacity of 5,200 liters, securing a reliable supply of clean drinking water for affected communities. Additionally, hygiene kits containing disinfectants, cleaning tools, water purifiers and other essential items were distributed to the households.

Anna noted that these assistance supplies have equipped community members with vital knowledge and practical skills, enhancing awareness of personal hygiene and enabling families to establish and maintain sustainable hygiene practices at home.

"The community water tank delivers water to our homes only twice a week, so we must store it in large containers. We've learned that stored water must be covered and protected, and that drinking water should always be boiled before consumption."

Now, like other mothers in Lemorana, Anna ensures her family adheres to fundamental hygiene practices: washing hands after using the toilet, boiling and safely storing drinking water, and maintaining clean kitchen utensils.