14 September 2025 – CVTL and PMI Cooperate on Cross-Border Activities
Cruz Vermelha de Timor-Leste (CVTL) and Palang Merah Indonesia (PMI) teamed up for the Evaluation and Planning of the Update of Cooperation on Cross-Border Activities event at Hotel Sotis in Kupang, Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT) from September 10th through the 13th.
Representing the CVTL Secretary General, National Society Development (NSD) coordinator Agapito Da Silva emphasized the importance of communication and collaboration. Cross-Border cooperation and CVTL’s commitment were underscored.
Coordinator Da Silva also expressed appreciation, stating, “We are grateful to PMI Central for initiating this cooperation, as well as to the ICRC, IFRC, American Red Cross, and PMI NTT for hosting this evaluation activity. Every strategic step in cooperation can only be realized if we collaborate and communicate intensely.”
Deputy head of PMI Central Headquarters Puji Astuti affirmed that cross-border cooperation is a real need given that Indonesia’s territory borders both land and sea with other countries, including Timor-Leste.
“This cross-border cooperation is a foregone conclusion. Since 2020, PMI and CVTL have been bound to cooperate for five years. It is time for us to sit together to evaluate the extent of its implementation on the ground,” said Astuti.
He added, “It is our hope that each cooperation has clear targets so that its achievements can be measured. With 34 provinces and nearly 479 PMI branches across Indonesia, we are ready to strengthen the organization’s capacity to support this cooperation.”
Head of NTT provincial border management agency Badan Pengelola Perbatasan Daerah (BPPD) Ir. Maksi Y. E. Nenabu, MT exposed their strategic role in supporting the development of the border region. He explained that, “With 12 districts and 88 sub-districts in the NTT bordering Timor-Leste and Australia directly, cross-agency coordination becomes key. CVTL and PMI play an important role in the protection of vulnerable groups, data collection, as well as integration of programs in the border region. Let us support the border program in the spirit of ‘protect its territory and prosper its people’ both in Timor-Leste and Indonesia.”
Three Key Strategies: The evaluation results agreed upon to enhance cross-border cooperation.
1. Increased capacity to work with partners.
2. Organizational strengthening in humanitarian services.
3. Accountable, inclusive, and sustainable building of community resilience in the region.
These strategies will be derived into concrete activities and programs. The signing of the renewal of cooperation is scheduled for November 2025.
Participants and Activities: Attendees included representatives of CVTL National, three branches of CVTL (Bobonaru, Oecuse, and Covalima), PMI Central, PMI NTT, PMI Timur Tengah Utara (TTU), PMI Belu, as well as partners of ICRC, IFRC, and American Red Cross.
Apart from the meeting, the CVTL delegation also reviewed the PMI NTT’s blood donor unit, Unit Donor Darah (UDD). “We would like to learn directly from the experience of PMI NTT, particularly with regard to the establishment of a blood donor unit which is also a need in Timor-Leste,” expressed one of the CVTL representatives.
CVTL and PMI are committed to continuing professional, accountable, and humanitarian cross-border cooperation, in order to promote a safe and resilient society in both Timor-Leste and Indonesia.
