Official Handover of Five Fire Engines from Japan to Enhance Timor-Leste’s Emergency Response Capacity
On October 13th, 2026, at the Government Palace in Dili, Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão received five fire engines from the Government of Japan for the Civil Protection Authority, intended to strengthen Timor-Leste's firefighting and emergency response capacity.
The vehicles were handed over by the Ambassador of Japan to Timor-Leste, Yasushi Yamamoto, at a ceremony attended by the Secretary of State for Civil Protection, Domingos Mariano Reis, and representatives of the Civil Protection Authority.
The support, totalling US$333,987, was provided through Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) programme. Of the five vehicles delivered, four will be used in Dili and one in the municipality of Lautém.
The handover formalises the project to reuse fire engines in Dili and Lautém, agreed in February 2025 between the Government of Japan and the Civil Protection Authority. The project provides a range of vehicles to support firefighting and emergency response operations.
The support also includes five days of training for Timorese firefighters in operating, using, and maintaining the vehicles to ensure proper use and to strengthen the operational capacity of response teams.
During the ceremony, Ambassador Yasushi Yamamoto highlighted the cooperation developed between the two countries and expressed the expectation that the new equipment and training will contribute to strengthening Timor-Leste's capacity in firefighting and emergency response, as well as to protecting lives and property.
The diplomat also emphasised the importance of regular vehicle maintenance to ensure their operational readiness and long-term use.
Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão expressed gratitude, on behalf of the Government and people of Timor-Leste, for the support provided by the Government and people of Japan and recalled the cooperation Japan has extended to the country across various development sectors since 1999.
Since 2000, the GGP programme has supported various projects with a direct impact on communities in Timor-Leste, including the construction and rehabilitation of schools and health facilities, water supply systems, and the provision of vehicles and equipment for public services.
According to the Embassy of Japan, 148 projects had been supported by this programme up to 2025, covering various national municipalities and the Special Administrative Region of Oe-Cússe Ambeno.
