DILI, TIMOR — A Christmas aid
package worth more than $AUD 280,000 ($US 156,000) including gardening tools,
food and clothing has been presented to Xanana Gusmao, president of the East
Timorese National Council, by representatives of The Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints.
The aid, weighing 85,000 kilograms (187,000 pounds), was
shipped from Sydney to East Timor in seven 24-foot containers. The delivery
arrived in Timor 18 December, following the symbolic handover of a cheque to
East Timorese representatives at the Church's Griffith, New South Wales, farm
on 12 July this year. The cash was provided from Church welfare farm revenues.
Since July, Church officials have been purchasing supplies,
which include shovels ($US 3,300), hoes ($US 5,000), mattocks ($US 5,800), corn
($US 14,800), rice ($US 17,400) and red kidney beans ($US 21,700). The Church
also conducted a clothing appeal among Australian members, yielding several
thousand items of children's new and used clothing as part of the package. The
clothing, weighing 22,000 pounds, is valued at $US 67,300. Shipping costs
amounted to $US 22,400.
Mr. Gusmao met with the Church's Area Welfare Agent, William
Bush, and Pacific Director of Public Affairs, Alan Wakeley, to arrange delivery
of the goods to the final recipients. "This is a great Christmas present
for my people," said Mr Gusmao. "We are so grateful for this
humanitarian aid." The Timorese leader requested the goods be delivered by
international peace-keeping troops to people in the East Timorese enclave of
Oecussi, located within West Timor.
Gusmao said he was particularly grateful for the shovels and
mattocks. "While it is good to give hungry people food, it is best to give
them tools so they can use them to grow their own crops and become
self-sufficient," he said.
Mr. Wakeley says that a close relationship between Australians
and the East Timorese was forged during the years of World War II. "Our
present aid is a small "thank you" for the protection provided by East
Timorese to those who fought to protect Australia's northern shores."
"As a church, we wish to help the East Timorese rebuild
their communities and livelihoods to help them get back on their feet and
prosper as families and as a people."
The latest aid package follows other humanitarian assistance
given by the Church earlier this year to East Timorese refugees located in West
Timor. The earlier aid included hygiene kits, food and clothing valued at more
than $US 723,400. Some $US 281,000 of this was drawn from revenues from the
Church's Griffith farm.
According to Mr Bush, more than $US 262 million in cash and goods have been
given to assist people affected by natural disasters, war and other personal
calamities in the past 15 years.
The Church has its own humanitarian entity, Latter-day
Saint Charities, but often works through other charities, such as Catholic
Relief and the Salvation Army.
