The government of Timor-Leste calls for international aid to rebuild after devastating and deadly floods

The Timor-Leste government has announced that it will seek help from Australia and other countries after catastrophic floods that have killed dozens of people and left thousands homeless.

Important points:

• As the country continues to assess flood damage, it has also recorded its first death from COVID.
• The first batch of vaccine from Timor-Leste arrived yesterday and the authorities want to start vaccinations tomorrow.
• Foreign Secretary Marise Payne says Australia is ready to provide further aid

On Tuesday evening, authorities confirmed that the death toll from the disaster had reached 34.

However, this number is expected to rise and at least eight more people will be missing.

Indonesia's neighboring islands have also been hit by heavy rains and floods, killing at least 130 people, dozens of whom are still missing.

The Australian government is particularly concerned about the risk of water-borne diseases and the lack of drinking water and food in Timor-Leste, northern Australia.

Government officials and NGOs are still struggling to determine the extent of damage on the outskirts of Dili, where raging waters and landslides have washed away homes, destroyed roads and washed away bridges.

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The Australian authorities are on site and will likely be involved after the damage assessment is complete. ((

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Timorese government minister Fidelis Leite Magalhães said the government is still examining the effects of the floods but said his country will seek more help soon.

"After completing its damage assessment, the government would seek help from friendly countries, particularly Australia, given their proximity, resources and disaster management experience," he told ABC.

"But the Australian embassy and its agencies are working very hard with the Timorese government and its people."

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Vaccine use begins despite the flood

Dili has long been hit by COVID when floods hit and thousands of people were forced to band together in shelters, raising fears of the rapid spread of the coronavirus. ((

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There are also fears that COVID-19 will spread rapidly after the floods, disrupting a lockdown in the capital, Dili, forcing thousands of people to seek refuge in a dozen shelters.

Timor-Leste recorded its first COVID-19 death on Tuesday and now has nearly 500 active cases.

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The country's first batch of COVID vaccines purchased through COVAX facilities arrived in Dili yesterday.

United Nations agencies and the Timor-Leste government expect the vaccine to be used on Wednesday despite the disruption caused by the floods.

Magalhães said Australia has already provided vital medical assistance to Timor-Leste to test it for COVID-19 and contain the spread of the disease.

"We are also very grateful for Australia's help in the fight against COVID-19, which would have been impossible without Australia's support," he said.

Foreign Secretary Marise Payne said yesterday Australia was ready to provide more aid to Timor-Leste, but the federal opposition pressured the coalition to begin preparations immediately.

The lack of heavy equipment delayed the cleanup and recovery efforts. ((

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Northern Territory Labor MP Luke Gosling told local ABC radio in Darwin that Australia needed "reinforcement".

"I have given (the government) some free advice, namely to start using resources before going to Timor, especially to help with clean water," he said.

"Because it takes a while to mobilize that kind of support.

"You don't have to wait for the official letter from the Timor-Leste government to know that this is a city in crisis."

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