November 4, 2000, NEW YORK CITY -- Based on
the most recent information available concerning the present circumstances in West Timor,
Church World Service said today that it had decided to postpone re-opening its West Timor
Program.
Operations have been suspended since early
September following the murder by pro-Indonesia militias of three United Nations
expatriate relief workers. Nearly 400 foreign aid workers, including several working
for Church World Service, were evacuated to Indonesia and U.N.-administered East Timor
following the murders.
“CWS is waiting for a substantial
change in the conditions on the ground and for the U.N. Security Council to complete its
own assessment and report of the situation to the international community,” said Rick
Santos, CWS Interim Director for Social and Economic Development.
During the past year, CWS has assisted more
than 10,000 refugees from East Timor with tents, blankets, food, bedding, mosquito nets
and health and hygiene kits. They are among
an estimated 120,000 refugees from East Timor who remain trapped in camps in West
Timor.
“CWS will only consider re-opening its
operations in Atambua and Kupang, West Timor, when the situation is secure,” Mr.
Santos said.
-end-
Contact: NCC News
NCC Home Page