East Timor, a Portugese colony since the middle of the 16th century, declared itself independent from Portugal in 1975, but was shortly after invaded by Indonesia. The Indonesian occupation costed more than 100.000 deaths from suppression of the resistance and famine. On the 30th of August 1999 a UN-organized referendum was held and the population voted overwhelmingly (78,5%) for full independence from Indonesia.
Not happy with the outcome, local pro-Indonesia militia, with assistance of the Indonesian military ransacked the place, burnt most buildings and retreated over the border, forcing some 300.000 people as refugees over the border to West-Timor.
UNICEF asked who wanted to volunteer to set up the cold chain for the vaccination campaign in this brand new country. On the day I arrived the Australian military had not fully secured Dili yet, as I saw a few militia walking around Dili in long coats, hiding machetes. The next day the first returnees already started to trickle over the border, back to their brand-new, free country.
Not happy with the outcome, local pro-Indonesia militia, with assistance of the Indonesian military ransacked the place, burnt most buildings and retreated over the border, forcing some 300.000 people as refugees over the border to West-Timor.
UNICEF asked who wanted to volunteer to set up the cold chain for the vaccination campaign in this brand new country. On the day I arrived the Australian military had not fully secured Dili yet, as I saw a few militia walking around Dili in long coats, hiding machetes. The next day the first returnees already started to trickle over the border, back to their brand-new, free country.
Long lines of refugees returning to their new country.
A first group of returnees takes shelter from danger and the sun
The first returnees just crossed the border with West Timor, take a rest and eat & drink a bit under the protection of Australian military, before continuing to check what is left of their houses.
UN staff gathering information from the returnees on the situation in West Timor and telling them where they can go to get food and stuff to rebuild their houses.
MSF staff checking the baby of a mother who just crossed the border from West Timor.
A grandmother with kids in front of what is left of their house
Some fifty Landrovers the UN used to secure the referendum would be free & fair were set alight out of frustration having lost the referendum
Australian soldier looking at the text the population left on the walls before being forced to West Timor.
On the photo a group of returnees on the Jervis Bay (a huge catamaran of the Australian marine). They were sent at night over sea around the island to the south coast. This way a huge logistic operation was avoided, that would be needed to send them to their villages across the island over small, unpaved roads, with their belongings by buses and trucks.
Returnees arrive in the morning at the south-side of East-Timor.
Returnees leaving one of the landing vessels to get to their village on buses from the Australian military. The Jervis Bay in the background out at sea.
Returnees board a truck of the Australian military sending them to their village.
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