Lafaek News–September 10, 2021–The United States is pleased to announce an additional $2.3 million in assistance to help Timor-Leste fight COVID-19 and strengthen health security.  The new funding will be used to build health facilities to better enable the Government of Timor-Leste to save lives.  Since the beginning of the pandemic, the United States has been working side-by-side with Timor-Leste to fight COVID-19, including by providing $4 million in critical assistance.

 Today’s $2.3 million commitment will provide funding to initiate work on three projects, Building Isolation Facilities in Baucau:  building isolation facilities for a regional hospital in Baucau that will help treat COVID-19 patients and offset the strain on existing medical facilities.

Constructing a Mobile Intensive Care Unit in Dili:  constructing a mobile intensive care unit in Dili to strengthen the capacity of Timor-Leste to provide intensive care to COVID-19 patients and other vulnerable health populations; and Borehole project in Batugade:  developing a borehole project to increase water capacity and sanitation at a quarantine center in Batugade. 

Representing a whole-of-U.S. government effort to support Timor-Leste, the funding announced today is provided by the U.S. Mission in Timor-Leste, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command with collaboration from Peace Corps.  Aspects of the work will be carried out in cooperation with UNICEF.

 The United States stands with Timor-Leste as an enduring friend and partner as we work to combat COVID-19,” said U.S. Embassy Dili’s Chargé d’Affaires Tom Daley.  “The United States is taking a comprehensive approach to ending the pandemic, mitigating COVID-19’s harm to people and societies, and strengthening global recovery and readiness for future pandemic threats.  We are stepping up to help Timor-Leste save lives because it is the right thing to do.” 

 Today’s support reflects the strong U.S. commitment to ending the pandemic.  In June, President Biden announced that the United States would share doses of our vaccine supply with the world.  The United States has already donated and delivered more than 110 million doses to more than 60 countries – and that is just the beginning.  The United States will continue to provide assistance to Timor-Leste as part of our commitment to leading the global response to the pandemic

 USA Embassy TL