Challenges De-Commissioning IDP Camps in Dili

The Year of Humanitarian Engineering: Challenges de-commissioning IDP camps in Dili

Refugees vs IDPs? • Refugees – people who have a wellfounded fear that if they return to their country of origin they will be persecuted on account of their race, religion, social gp etc. NB: they must have crossed an international border.

• Internally Displaced Persons – anyone who has been displaced from their home by conflict or natural disaster but who is still within their country of origin.

Numbers?

• In 2008 the Internal Displacement Monitoring Committee estimated that there were approx: – 15.2 million refugees – 26 million IDPs

Some aspects of Timor Leste • Landmass: 15,007 sq km (8.2% arable) • Population: 1,177,000 (2011) – disputed.

• Languages: 16 indigenous plus Portuguese, Indonesian & English. Official languages are Tetum & Portuguese.

• Exports: coffee, sandalwood, marble, oil, gas Imports: food, fuel, machinery.

• Industries: printing, soap manufacture, handicrafts, woven cloth.

Aspects of Timor Leste (con’t) • Literacy: 58.6% (those over 15 yrs who can read & write) • Demographic characteristics: – 0 - 14 yrs 34% – 15 - 64 yrs 63% – > 65 yrs 3%

Median age 22.5 yrs

• Pop below the poverty line: 42% (2003) • Unemployment rate: reports vary greatly from 20 – 60%

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Exit Strategy Four situations for disengagement from service delivery to IDPs: 1. Camp down-sizing or closure 2. Another appropriate org agrees to take on camp 3. Deterioration of security – withdrawal fm country 4. Ongoing presence of remnant IDP pop post-emergency

De-commissioning phases 1. Well before the IDPs start to depart 2. When camp partially empty 3. When camp empty

WatSan & Hygiene Responsibilities for Dili IDP Camps

SLS

Area or Suco

#

Camp name

Contact person

UNFPA

Bidau Lecidere

1.2

Canossa Lecidere

Sister Elise Cardosa

CRS

Kampung Baru

10.1

Don Bosco

Fr Adriano de Jesus

Pop (food distrib)

Pop (other est)

744

14,150

3,000

Jerry cans

On city network

Bore hole or well

Water delivery

WatSan support

Procure hygiene material

Hygiene promo

Empty septic tanks

Rubbish

x

x

x

Oxfam

Oxfam

Oxfam

Oxfam

UNICEF

UNICEF

x

x

AntEater (NZ Emb)

UNICE F

CRS

CRS

UNICEF

World Vision

Summary of 11 steps used in de-commissioning process 1. Update list of assets in camps 2. Prioritise camps for de-commissioning: 1. already closed 2. reducing in numbers 3. still ‘full’ but showing signs of moving 4. still ‘full’ and showing no signs of moving.

3. Decide ideal position about disposal of assets, cessation of services and clean up (may not achieve this, but it is good to have a starting point).

Summary of 11 steps (con’t) 4. Organise consultation team 5. Organise meeting with Site Owner 6. Negotiate de-commissioning process, including disposal of assets, cessation of services and clean-up. May need more than one meeting (see section 1 of ‘De-commissioning IDP Camps for WatSan Support Agencies’).

7. Socialise process to IDPs through Camp Management Committee.

Summary of 11 steps (con’t) 8. Implement de-commissioning activities appropriate to status & situation of camp (see sections 2 & 3 of ‘De-commissioning IDP Camps for WatSan Support Agencies’).

9. Organise final inspection with SLS & site owner.

10. Once it is agreed that site has been restored to a satisfactory state, provide site owner with customized: – De-commissioning letter – Deed of gift (if relevant)

11. Make separate plans to follow-up if site has been approved, & is suitable, to be set up for future refuge.

Obstacles • • • • • • •

Late start Lack of records of earlier stages/promises Dependency – IDPs & some govt depts Low technical capacity of govt depts No risk taking mentality by govt staff Poor public infrastructure Lack of resolution of political situation

Obstacles (con’t) • • • • • • •

Unstable security situation Need to be able to quickly ramp up again Romanticism Cynicism Donors lack knowledge of Exit Strategies No definition of ‘IDP camp’ Inheriting problems fm other sectors

Lessons learnt • Start planning Exit Strategy at the start • Cover technical, Public Health & sociocultural issues • Integrate Exit Planning across WatSan sector • Integrate Exit Planning with whole IDP response • Negotiator with cross-cultural competencies

Lessons learnt (con’t) • Exit Strategy & de-commissioning process must be built into ongoing work load • Record the history of the emerg response • Involve local staff in planning • Look for possible future career paths for good local staff • Beware of never-ending emergencies – think Exit Strategy!

Plan your exit strategy BEFORE you find yourself in a tight situation!