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Central govt urged to help refugees

October 13, 2004

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Governor Piet Tallo expressed concern on Wednesday over the plight of East Timor refugees currently living in various areas in NTT province.

According to Tallo, thousands of East Timor refugees are currently suffering from lack of clean water and food due to prolonged drought. The provincial government would help the refugees ease their problems, but actually the central government bears more responsibility over the plight of the refugees, said Tallo.

Tens of thousands of East Timor refugees flocked to NTT and other Indonesian territories in 1999 after Dili, the capital of East Timor, which was burned down by Indonesian soldiers following a referendum in the tiny country, that marked the separation of East Timor from Indonesia. -- JP