Members of the Order in Australia respond to floods in Suai, Timor-Leste
The Australian Association is committed to helping the people of Timor-Leste where there is such great opportunity to assist “Our Lords the Poor and the Sick”.
In June, floods caused by continuous torrential rain fall for two weeks in the Suai District of Timor-Leste resulted in loss of life and major damage to property. Members of the Order in the Northern Territory responded immediately to assist the humanitarian aid effort.
Members Carlo and Maria Randazzo, organised 300 items of clothing for men, women and children affected by the floods and personally arranged for these items to be shipped to Dili.
Collin Yap, a Member of the Order based in Timor-Leste, with the assistance of friends of the Order Edwin Yap, Lynne Ong and Diana Choo transported the clothing from Dili to Suai – a 240km journey that took over 10 hours, partly due to the terrible road conditions following the weeks of torrential rain.
The clothes were distributed to the local community by the Sisters of St Paul of Chartres and the Canossian Daughters of Charity.


Sr Carmen Pangilinan of the Sisters of St Paul of Chartres takes receipt of the clothing to be distributed to the local community.
A thank you note from Sr Sonia Sangel in Suai
Dear Collin,
Thanks for the wonderful and gorgeous photos. We have distributed the clothes and blankets and toys. In a second the whole village came and flocked around. Some got and some did not. I told them next disaster and they all laughed…this means it is OK for them not to have as long as no more heavy rain as such.
Thanks for the sacrifice you and Lynne and Edwin and Diana did to reach out to us.
God bless and love to the three.
Sr. Sonia
Learn more abou our ongoing humanitarian efforts in Timor-Leste, which include longer-term initiatives to assist medical clinics and rehabilitate the National Ambulance service .
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