Dili, April 9^th, 2021 – The Council of Ministers, in an extraordinary meeting, held this week, approved the Government Resolution for the Declaration of the State of Calamity, for 30 days, and also approved the mobilization of international support in response to the impacts of the floods caused by Tropical Cyclone Seroja, on April 4^th.

According to provisional data from the Secretary of State for Civil Protection, presented at the Meeting of the Council of Ministers, the floods and landslides caused damage to public and private infrastructures, and about ten thousand people were displaced, only in Dili, although there are other affected municipalities. In addition, Tropical Cyclone Seroja claimed 42 lives, 22 in Dili, 10 in Ainaro, 5 in Manatuto, 3 in Viqueque, and 2 in Aileu. Initial estimates of the cost of infrastructure damage point to more than US$ 100 million. END/M-PMO