Timor-Leste
Drought, 25 Jan 2024
| Allocation | $2,070,819 |
|---|---|
| Emergency type | Drought |
| Window | Rapid Response |
| Recipient UN Agencies | FAO, UNICEF, WFP |
| Group of people targeted | Host communities |
| Number of people targeted | 24,652 |
| Status | Completed |
| Allocation code | 24-RR-TLS-63168 |
| Title | Timor Leste RR Application Jan 2024 (El Nino - Drought) |
Overview of the humanitarian situation
Timor-Leste faces an imminent and severe drought, as the IRI forecasts a probability of more than 70% for below-average rainfall from December 2023 to April 2024, surpassing previous years. The Combined Drought Index, used to assess the country's drought situation, already triggered FAO's anticipatory action protocol in October 2023. Even before the effects of El Niño and the Indian Ocean Dipole, 44% of families experienced moderate to severe food insecurity, and 54% faced water scarcity, reaching 70% in some areas. The country exhibits one of the highest rates of child stunting globally, affecting half of children under five. El Niño is already impacting regional rice production, leading to a significant price increase. Nearly 42% of the population live below the poverty line, with rural areas facing disproportionate poverty. In addition, hunger is expected to be most acute in the April to June season. These factors collectively necessitate preemptive action to address the impending humanitarian emergency resulting from the El Niño-related drought.
CERF-funded assistance
In response, the Emergency Relief Coordinator on 29 December allocated $2.08 million from the CERF rapid response window, to kick-start the response to implement and scale up anticipatory action activities ahead of the drought and to respond to existing needs. A total of 28,592 people will be targeted with food security, nutrition, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) activities.
Projects included in this allocation
| Organization | Project title | Code | Amount in US$ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNICEF | Anticipated Response to El Nino Triggered Water and Food Shortage | 24-RR-CEF-003 | US$500,000 | Read more |
| FAO | Protection of Agriculture and Livestock of People of Timor-Leste from El-Nino Induced Drought | 24-RR-FAO-001 | US$499,250 | Read more |
| WFP | Emergency response to El Nino affected households in Timor-Leste | 24-RR-WFP-001 | US$1,071,569 | Read more |