Dili, Jully 1, 2026 (Media Democracia) – The Civil Protection Authority (APC) celebrated its 4th anniversary with the theme “A Resilient Future through Innovation and Adaptation to Climate Change.”
The President of the Civil Protection Authority (APC), Jesuino dos Reis Matos Carvalho, said that over the past four years, the institution has continued to provide emergency assistance, support for communities affected by disasters, and carry out recovery programs across the country.
“Today we celebrate our 4th anniversary since this institution was established under the Ministry of Interior. However, civil protection and emergency response work isn’t new, because it was previously carried out by the Ministry of Social Solidarity before the government structure was reorganized. APC also works together with firefighters to increase disaster response capacity.” said APC President Jesuino dos Reis at the CNE Larigutu Hall (06/29/2026).
In addition, poor basic infrastructure like roads remains a major challenge for APC teams to quickly reach communities that need assistance.
“APC has always paid attention to communities, especially in rural areas, so they don’t feel alone when facing disasters. We make efforts to reach affected areas, even though we face many limitations, such as lack of human resources, equipment, and adequate transport. To prevent disaster risks, APC continues to provide emergency response, but also runs awareness programs for communities on preparedness and ways to avoid disasters.” he stated.
At the anniversary, the APC President appreciated the dedication and service of staff who work wholeheartedly despite various limitations.
“We will continue to modernize our work mechanisms and seek support to increase capacity to provide better services to communities. This work isn’t done alone, but together with the National Police of Timor-Leste and Falintil-Defence Forces of Timor-Leste, especially in disaster response operations in rural areas.” he added.
Also present, Secretary of State for Civil Protection Domingos Mariano Reis said that civil protection work needs support from key resources such as human resources, financial resources, facilities, and infrastructure to ensure effective emergency response.
“The experience over the past years serves as an important reference to improve preparedness and develop capacity to respond quickly to emergencies and disasters in Timor-Leste. The mission of the Civil Protection Authority is to serve and protect citizens from disaster risks. The institution also ensures that emergency response teams are ready 24 hours to provide assistance when disasters occur. Resource limitations cannot be an obstacle to the mission of protecting the community.” said Secretary of State for Civil Protection Domingos Mariano.
He further stated that this year, the Civil Protection Authority recorded 1,421 victims due to natural disasters, including floods, landslides, strong winds, and house fires.
“APC ensures that all victims receive emergency support and assistance for the recovery process. On this 4th anniversary, we at the Civil Protection Authority commit to continuing to strengthen preparedness, respond quickly to emergencies, and build community resilience against the impacts of climate change and natural disasters in Timor-Leste.” he added.
APC hopes that in the future it can obtain better resources and support to strengthen capacity and continue providing fast and effective assistance to communities, especially disaster victims in Timor-Leste.
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