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• Young Refugee Calls for Peace And Unity in Her Country, Timor-Leste

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Young Refugee Calls for Peace And Unity in Her Country, Timor-Leste

"The crisis being faced by Timor-Leste has affected not only the elderly and children, but also the students and youth—the future of Timor-Leste," says 19-year-old Ubalda Junior Soares Campos.

Ubalda at the World Bank Office in Dili

Uba, who sought refuge with her family at the World Bank office in Dili during the crisis, in June 2006, said the recent explosion of violence and conflict in the capital had halted all her normal activities and that of her friends, including school and extracurricular activities. She is in her third year of high school and sad because she still cannot attend classes. "I have no idea how to obtain my graduation from Paul VI Secondary School in Dili," she said.

Uba was previously very active outside of school, working at home, dancing and helping at her church. "I became stressed at having to stop my studies, but I am much sadder as innocent people have died [during the conflict]," she said.

Kids get medical treatment from Portuguese doctors

She and her whole family had to flee from their home in Balide due to fights between armed civilians. At first, they evacuated to the Indonesian embassy where they stayed for two days. As they could not stay for a longer period at the embassy, they moved to the World Bank; they are related to a member of staff there. Uba said her family received a lot of attention and support from the World Bank Timor-Leste Acting Country Manager, Mr. Antonio Franco. "We have no problems of food, medicine, clean water and space, as our whole family got lots of assistance from the World Bank and the Portuguese Embassy [which provided medical and teaching support]."

Uba said she hoped the leaders of Timor-Leste would work together to create a conducive situation for her family and other refugees to return to their homes. "I also ask the whole Timorese people to stop hating each other and let us live together in peace in order to build a better Timor-Leste," she said.

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