Winter Appeal 2008
Displaced in Paradise? Donate Now
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Read the full version including information on displaced people around the world. Maria and Marcelino Fernandez fled with their children and 38 other families to the hills around their homes in Viqueque District, afraid of widespread violence and threats from political groups and youth gangs after the August 2007 national Timor-Leste elections. But ten months later they are still living in temporary shelters and cooking out in the open on tables made from branches. The community is exposed to rain and high winds, and there is a constant danger of injury from falling coconuts and fronds. The camp is located over a stream which floods and becomes muddy when it rains, cutting off access to clean water, markets or services and children can’t get to school. Maria had no choice but to flee her home. They described “We are scared because we get terrorised in our own community. I went back after two weeks after we fled to try to get our things from our home, but everything was ruined. Young men threatened me again, so I had to leave. I feel very sad because we lose everything.” Marcelino can’t access his land to farm and Maria’s small business has been destroyed, so they have no way to earn an income now. Maria sighed, “we are now eating coconuts and whatever local foods we can forage in the jungle.” “I am concerned about the health of our children. Many children have become sick with conjunctivitis, chicken pox, coughs and fevers. We have no money for medicine,” worried Maria who has a daughter, Pedrolina, in high school, and two young sons, Inacio and Lucio, in the camp. Austcare responded in August by launching a crisis appeal and delivered urgently needed clothing and educational supplies. Our Protection Officers have been working since September with affected host and displaced communities, the local government and United Nations’ agencies, facilitating communication to promote peace and to allow people to return home as well as providing immediate aid, but we need your help to continue our assistance. While Maria, Marcelino and their children seem to be living in an idyllic setting, they are in reality desperate. “We want to go home," Maria stated. "We want to live normal lives – not under coconut trees! Our children need to go to school; they need a good place to grow up. But we need to feel safe to go back home.” Maria’s story is far from unique as nearly 40 million people are currently displaced and homeless around the world. We need your help now to continue our work with families like Maria’s, to help them regain their livelihoods and ensure their access to basic services such as education, water, sanitation and child-safe areas. Give now to enable Austcare assist families in need in Timor-Leste and in many other countries around the world who are struggling to survive. Sky de Jersey |
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Read the full version including information on displaced people around the world. |
