AN EMERGENCY aid flight has reached East Timor, after a group of Australian veterans stepped in to raise funds for the flood-devastated nation.
Flooding and landslides triggered by Cyclone Seroja struck Australia’s northern neighbour on Easter Sunday, claimed more than 40 lives, destroyed houses and businesses, cut roads leading to the capital Dili, and left about 14,000 people displaced in temporary shelters including school gymnasiums, parish halls and convents.
East Timor is also facing a COVID-19 outbreak that has already caused confinement and food shortages.
A chartered flight from Darwin with 70 boxes of critical medical and humanitarian supplies reached the capital Dili yesterday, after the Catholic-backed Veterans Care Association (VCA) raised more than $55,000 in a GoFundMe campaign, and with additional pledges from supporters in Australia.
“This is the triumph of the very best in humanity, bringing Light into Darkness, replacing despair with hope, and loving our neighbours,” VCA’s co-founder, Deacon Gary Stone said.
Deacon Stone’s son, Michael Stone, a former army major who now leads a veteran rehabilitation program called “Timor Awakening” has spent the last 10 days spearheading efforts to raise funds and arrange the aid delivery.
Mr Stone arrived in Dili aboard the flight with the badly-needed medical supplies.
“We have pulled every string and done whatever we can to get the most immediate support to Timor,” he said.
“There are hundreds and hundreds of doctors that are trained in Timor… if they get the equipment needed, they can save thousands of lives.”
Jesuits in East Timor are also working to provide support on the ground including the provision of mattresses, bed sheets and cooking utensils.
“Now that the rain has stopped, we can begin to clean up and plan long-term solutions for these families.” Jesuit Father Júlio Sousa, Director of Jesuit Social Service East Timor, said.
“If we have sufficient resources we will certainly extend our help to more households. At the moment we have distributed food items and clothes to over 500 people.”
The Australian Government has responded to a request for help from the government of East Timor with a $7 million relief package to support an estimated 100,000 people affected by flooding.
Immediate support from Australia after the flood has already included restoring power to the country’s COVID-19 crisis and treatment centres, and police facilities.
The extra $7 million in emergency relief will cover provision of personal protective equipment, which has dwindled due to flooding, temporary shelter and critical household items.
Funds will also go to the Timorese and Australian Red Cross and other non-governmental organisations to help in flood-recovery efforts, and to the World Food Programme to address food-supply shortages.
Donations to the Veterans Care Association’s ongoing GoFundMe campaign can be found here.
The Jesuit Mission relief program for flood victims is also seeking donations.
