Timor-Leste - Background information

Timor-Leste, or East Timor as it is commonly known has only recently emerged from a brutal conflict with neighbouring Indonesia that ended in 2002.

15 year-old Carolina Pereira is from Elcolbere Aldea, Timor-Leste

Credit: WaterAid / Dinesh

"If a new water system is built, we will be very happy as it will save a lot of time to collect water. Then there will be more time to clean the house and look after my little brothers and sisters. I would also have more time to read."

This newly independent state includes the eastern half of the island of Timor, the Oecussi (Ambeno) region of the island of Timor, and the islands of Pulau Atauro and Pulau Jaco.

A rugged mountain range dominates the landscape of the main island with the southern coastal plains consisting of an array of river deltas and swamps. Farming is difficult in the rocky terrain and seasonal food and water shortages are common.

With up to a quarter of the East Timorese having died during their 25 year struggle for independence the population is now estimated to be under a million.

The country is one of the world's poorest with high infant and maternal mortality rates. Twelve percent of children die before the age of five, many from illness and disease caused by a lack of safe water and adequate sanitation.

Life expectancy is higher than most developing countries at 65 years but a climate favourable to mosquitoes and poor sanitation in the cities means that malaria is one of the major causes of death and has a large impact on economic and educational development.

The United Nations estimates that only 20% of the population has access to safe water and only 15% to sanitation facilities.