The Cruz Vermelha de Timor-Leste (CVTL) is hosting a three-day visit from March 19–21 by Mr. Achala Navaratne, the Global Division Director for the Asia-Pacific region of the American Red Cross (AmCross). The visit focuses on strengthening collaboration between AmCross and CVTL, particularly in the field of Disaster Risk Management (DRM) and National Society Development (NSD).
During the visit, Mr. Navaratne expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome and emphasized the importance of fostering deeper cooperation employing the Strategic Partnership Plan (SPP) of CVTL and AmCross in Timor Leste. “Thank you for the warm welcome and open discussions for enhancing partnership opportunities in CVTL. We look forward to continued collaboration,” he stated. His visit aims to assess on-going program and explore new strategies for strengthening CVTL’s humanitarian efforts.
The CVTL Secretary General, Mr. Luis Pedro Pinto, highlighted the significance of the visit, stating that AmCross aims to observe progress of program implementation and identify ways to enhance strategic initiative further. Strengthening the partnership between national societies remains a key priority in building a more effective disaster preparedness and response framework for Timor-Leste.
In addition to discussions with CVTL leadership, the visit provided an opportunity to engage with other humanitarian partners. Meetings were held with representatives from the Australian Red Cross (ARC), International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in Dili and Jakarta, as well as the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) head office in Dili. These interactions focused on collaborative efforts to support CVTL as a leading entity in emergency management portfolio in Timor Leste with the government counterpart.
The visit underscores the shared commitment of AmCross and CVTL to enhancing humanitarian efforts in Timor-Leste. Through strengthened partnerships and strategic discussions, both organizations aim to bolster disaster preparedness and response, ensuring that communities receive effective and timely assistance in times of crisis.
