There is a five person MSF team in Dili but their movements have been restricted by security limitations. These limits have prevented the team from extending their operations into the field. No other ex-pats shall be joining the current team until at least Monday, September 27, 1999.

However activities have started to extend beyond the confines of the local hospital and members of the team are starting an assessment of conditions for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) sheltering in the Stadium.

With the arrival of a 30-tonne cargo shipment, scheduled to dock on the evening of September 24, there will be more equipment on the ground for an expansion of MSF activities. In West Timor, MSF has headed out to visit Kefa and Atambua to assess the situation.

During the exploratory mission to local islands, there have been reports of 2,240 East Timorese sheltering there as a result of the post-election violence. Of these 1,900 came by Government ferry and are considered transmigrants to Alor, Sulawasi and Java. Another 300 came by small boats.