The Eight Constitutional Government, through the Secretary of State for Civil Protection (SEPC), Alexandrino de Araújo, signed on April 11 a memorandum of understanding with the President of the Red Cross of Timor-Leste (CVTL), Madalena Hanjan, for cooperation in the management and response to natural disasters.

This agreement aims to enhance the synergy of resources on both sides for improving human resource capacities in the preparation and management of natural disasters. It will run for five years during the period 2019 to 2024 and may be extended if both parties agree.

Alexandrino de Araújo stressed the “importance of this agreement for the work of technical coordination among institutions” and stated that “this cooperation will allow the CVTL to support the Secretariat of State for Civil Protection in responding to the population in natural disasters”.

The Governor reported that “the data already collected, referring to the last months, recorded 1225 situations that required emergency humanitarian support due to heavy rains”. He added that “there are still several areas where data collection has not yet been possible, and the team is still on the ground recording the occurrences”.

The Secretary of State stated that the “Government is currently in the process of public tender for the purchase of food and other necessities to support the population affected by catastrophes in cases of emergency and in support of the reconstruction of their homes”.

As defined in the Government’s Organic Law, the SEPC also works in cooperation with the Ministry of Solidarity and Inclusion in supporting victims of disasters.

In addition to the Secretary of State for Civil Protection and the President of the Red Cross of Timor-Leste, development partners, the Director General for Migration Services, National Directors, civil servants, students and trainees also participated in the ceremony.