Subject: UNICEF: East Timor truce allows
immunization
Date: Sat, 17 Jul 1999 09:33:41 -0400
From: "John M. Miller" <fbp@igc.apc.org>UNICEF Press Release
East Timor truce allows immunization
Friday, 16 July 1999: Despite escalating violence in East Timor in advance of the
August referendum on the territory’s future, a little known 'truce' has been quietly
observed this week allowing thousands of children to be immunized against potentially
deadly childhood diseases.
Under a 'Truce for Children' initiative negotiated by UNICEF, factions fighting over
whether East Timor should become independent from Indonesia are supporting 'weeks of
tranquility' so that East Timorese children and women can safely access immunization and
other health services.
The UNICEF-backed campaign began on 12 July, with 240 health workers fanning out across
the territory to bring immunization services to local communities. During the first 'week
of tranquility,' which ended today, the campaign targeted some 30,000 children in 114
villages where immunization coverage levels have fallen dangerously low in recent months
due to security concerns.
The campaign aims to immunize all children under five years old and pregnant women in
and will continue at a pace of one week per month for the next five months.
UNICEF staff monitoring the campaign’s opening days reported a strong turnout and
no security incidents in villages where the immunization services are being offered.
Children are being immunized against the six major childhood diseases (tuberculosis,
measles, polio, diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus) at Posyandu (village-level
integrated service posts), village halls and clinics operated by the Catholic Church. The
immunization sites are also providing pregnant women with antenatal care, tetanus toxoid
injections and iron tablets, while children 6-12 months old are receiving complementary
food to help improve their nutritional status.
“This is a remarkable achievement for all the people of East Timor,” UNICEF
Executive Director Carol Bellamy said. “For the first time in months, women and
children are not afraid to leave their homes, and at the same time they are being provided
with the health services they so desperately need. By supporting this initiative and
working together, all parties in East Timor have shown that the rights of their children
remain a priority.”
East Timor, a former Portuguese colony occupied by Indonesia since the mid-1970s, has
been racked by violence between pro- and anti-independence groups since Indonesia
committed itself in May to the UN-supervised referendum.
Due to the mounting conflict, health services in East Timor have steadily deteriorated.
Government doctors and other health workers have fled, many community health centres are
no longer fully operational and remaining health workers are unwilling to make home
visits. At the same time, parents have been afraid to bring their children to health
facilities.
Stephen Woodhouse, the UNICEF Representative in Indonesia who helped to negotiate the
agreement, said: "As a result of the hostilities, tens of thousands of East Timorese
children under the age of five have not been immunized against the major childhood
diseases, which greatly increases the chances for an outbreak of measles or other
life-threatening illnesses.”
UNICEF was able to secure the agreement of all parties in East Timor, including the
pro-independence and pro-integration movements, to the 'weeks of tranquility', as well as
a promise to guarantee children and their families safe access to immunization sites and
to promote the campaign among their followers.
UNICEF, which has been working in East Timor since 1992, is supporting the immunization
campaign by providing technical and logistical assistance, training for health workers,
auto-destruct syringes and other immunization supplies.
Also supporting the campaign are the government, military, police, non-government
organizations and the leaders of East Timor’s Roman Catholic majority, including
Nobel Laureate Carlos Ximenez Belo, who, in 'A Letter from the Church', called upon all
families to bring their children in for immunization.
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan termed the campaign “an admirable initiative,
which will concretely demonstrate the commitment of the United Nations wherever there is
suffering and need.”
Please email media@unicef.org with comments or requests for more information, quoting
CF/DOC/PR/1999/25.
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