American Refugee Committee Suspends Operations in West TimorAmerican Refugee Committee The American Refugee Committee (ARC) has suspended its operations in West Timor, Indonesia, and evacuated its expatriate staff, following the killings of three United Nations staff members there. The deaths occurred when pro-Indonesian militia attacked an office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on Wednesday in Atambua, on the East Timor border. ARC has been providing health care to thousands of refugees from East Timor in nine camps near Atambua. The refugees fled or were forced into West Timor after violence erupted following East Timor's vote for independence from Indonesia in an August 1999 referendum.  Militia who oppose East Timor's independence have created serious security problems in the refugee camps for months. Because of the security threats, ARC was in the process of phasing out its operations in West Timor when the attack in Atambua occurred. An estimated 125,000 refugees remain in more than 200 locations around West Timor. The UN, other international agencies and private aid groups have evacuated staff in the wake of the attack. "The refugees are now more vulnerable than ever," said Karen Elshazly, ARC's director of international programs. "We urge the Indonesian government to ensure they are protected."
For more information, or to contact American Refugee Committee, see their website at: www.archq.org |
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