29 September 2026, Dili — The Cruz Vermelha de Timor-Leste (CVTL) strengthened humanitarian coordination along the Timor-Leste–Indonesia border through a cooperation dialogue with relevant government institutions, humanitarian organizations, and partners. The meeting was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (MNEC) Building in Dili to share information and discuss humanitarian issues that may affect communities living in border areas.
The dialogue brought together representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Health, Ministry of State Administration, Ministry of Justice, Secretariat of State for Civil Protection/CPA, Civil Society Support Office (GASC), National Directorate of Meteorology and Geophysics, Polícia Nacional de Timor-Leste (PNTL), F-FDTL, Municipal Authority representative from Bobonaro, Covalima and the Special Administrative Region of Oe-Cusse Ambeno (RAEOA), Directorate General of Immigration, Directorate General of Customs, UN agencies including WHO and IOM, American Red Cross (AmCross), International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), as well as CVTL Senior Management Team and staff from the CVTL branches in Covalima, Oe-Cusse and Bobonaro.
Speaking during the meeting, CVTL Secretary General Mr. Agapito da Silva highlighted the progress of humanitarian cooperation between CVTL and the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI), including efforts to raise awareness of the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The cooperation seeks to strengthen partnerships, institutional capacity, and community resilience through 13 thematic areas, including disaster preparedness and response, health, Restoring Family Links (RFL), resource mobilization, and humanitarian diplomacy.
The meeting also presented the draft Border Line Working Group for Humanitarian Affairs, which is intended to provide a platform for relevant institutions to strengthen coordination, communication, information sharing, and collaboration on humanitarian matters in border areas.
Through continued cooperation and coordination, CVTL and its partners will work together to strengthen preparedness, support a more coordinated humanitarian response, and contribute to safer and more resilient communities along the Timor-Leste–Indonesia border.
