Dili, October 1, 2024 (Media Democracia) – The Civil Protection Authority (APC) held a press conference to deliver weekly data on natural disasters in Timor-Leste. The press conference was held at the APC hall, Caicoli, Dili, on Monday.
The Director of the Office of External Relations and Communications, Cesario da Silva Marques informed that the Civil Protection Authority recorded 132 with different types of natural disasters that occurred in the municipality due to climate change, this incident also recorded one person who died in Ermera due to suicide.
“This week, the Civil Protection Authority recorded 132 cases of natural disasters of various types, 40 houses collapsed and resulted in 1 death, 26 houses collapsed due to strong winds, 14 house fires occurred, so the total number of natural disasters reached 132,” said GREK Director, Cesario da Silva Marques.
He continued, from the number of incidents only 24 houses met the criteria to receive rehabilitation assistance and 16 houses received emergency response assistance, natural disasters from the municipalities such as in Baucau 12 houses collapsed due to strong winds, 12 houses burned down, in Covalima 2 houses collapsed due to strong winds, 1 house fire occurred in Dili, in Ermera 1 person died from suicide, 5 houses collapsed due to strong winds and 1 house fire occurred, 4 houses collapsed due to strong winds in Liquiça and 3 in Viqueque. These cases were recorded due to climate change that occurred in our country.
In addition, the Civil Protection Authority (APC) carries out emergency attribution and recovery based on the classification of natural disaster data based on Law Number 7/2021 dated June 20, based on the type of disaster that occurs.
“The APC based in the sub-municipality area immediately distributes emergency response assistance to disaster-affected communities in accordance with Law Number 7 of 2021 in Article 10 which regulates the Housing Classification Plan, therefore this classification is to see in order to recover data that has been recorded by APC so that it can send aid to affected communities.” He said.
It was further explained that the case of the traditional house fire in Baucau APC had registered but was not yet entitled to receive emergency response assistance and there was no clear information regarding the incident. According to APC, incidents or disasters that occurred that were not entitled to receive emergency response assistance such as stalls, supermarkets, apartments including rented houses because they were places of business, APC could register but not provide emergency response assistance and APC prioritized people who were victims of the disaster.
Reported by : Basilio
Photo : Basilio