MoSS convenes a meeting for inter-ministerial coordination on natural disasters
In order to offer the victims of natural disasters in Timor-Leste a more effective and efficient support, on July 25th, the Ministry of Social Solidarity convened an inter-ministerial meeting with the development partners, in the Central MSS Building Hall.
The purpose of the meeting was to gather information about the activities within each ministry, on how to respond to victims of natural disasters in emergency situations, to adjust procedure mechanisms and actions to be taken.
The Minister of Social Solidarity, Isabel Amaral Guterres, recalled that "throughout 2013 Timor-Leste was faced with multiple natural disasters. In order to assist the victims in each district, the relevant ministries acted in cooperation with other ministries. "
"However, improving the services of each ministry is deemed necessary, in order to further provide a more effective and efficient support to the victims of natural disasters," stressed Isabel Amaral Guterres.
The Vice-Minister of Social Solidarity, Jacinto Rigoberto de Deus, stated that "the purpose of this inter-ministerial meeting with the development partners is to strengthen the coordination with all partners involved in the disaster areas, and to better balance their strengths and weaknesses, when compared to the assistance presently provided in natural disaster situations”.
"It is very important to create an effective, sound and consistent coordination mechanism, to anticipate each partner's capability in the field, in post-disaster situations so as to better identify locations which have received humanitarian aid from those who did not receive any support and those who have received aid in double", said the Vice-Minister.
Jacinto Rigoberto de Deus praised all entities for the manifesting gestures of solidarity and for the way the victims were swiftly rescued.
On this occasion, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) presented the study results on the areas at risk of natural disasters, which may be a reference for the development of a prevention and minimization plan.
The Secretary of State for the Environment, Nominando Soares Martins, wished to stress that "the natural disasters are caused by climate change, and their impacts have also affected Timor-Leste. The power of nature is far greater than the human intellectual capacity, but often natural disasters occur as a result of human actions”.
The meeting was attended by the Vice-Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Marcos da Cruz, the Vice-Minister of Health for Ethics and Service Affairs, Natalia de Araújo, the Secretary of State for Security, Francisco da Costa Guterres, Secretary of State for Forest and Nature Conservation, João Cardoso Fernandes, the Secretary of State for National Liberation Combatants Affairs, Julio Sarmento da Costa, directors, heads of department, national and international advisors, commanders of the PNTL and of the Maritime Unit of F-FDTL, UN representatives, Development Partners, representatives from the civil society and the National Consortium of Timorese Entrepreneurs (CNT).
