Resilience in the Green Hills: The Women of Balibar Rebuild Lives After Cyclone Seroja

Timor-Leste - Located in the east of Dili, the capital of Timor-Leste, Balibar is a village of rugged but stunning terrain.  In 2021, many homes were severely damaged when Cyclone Seroja struck the country, and those in Balibar were no exception. 

A mother of six, Katarina faced adversity head-on when the cyclone-induced floods partially destructed her home and swept away personal possessions, depriving her family of everything they had. Back then, heavy rains, landslides and floods ravaged 12 municipalities and claimed 45 lives, leaving thousands in Timor-Leste without homes or livelihoods.

Despite the mobility challenges posed by her age (64) and health, along with the daunting task of finding employment, Katarina put her life and family back together through her farming business and by selling fruits and vegetables.    

"It was incredibly challenging to rebuild my life from the ground up after the floods. Not just to slowly rebuild my home but to regain what we lost. Through what I grow and sell in the markets, I am now able to support both myself and my family."  

Like Katarina, Maria, a widow of three, lost her possessions to the floods, while her home was partially damaged. The aftermath of the floods left her in shock, making her wonder if she would ever recover from the loss.  

Fortunately, Maria was able to quickly stand on her feet again. With the shelter repair kits and non-food items she received from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in 2021 as part of the emergency response efforts, she rehabilitated her damaged home and pulled her family back together under one roof.  

"The shelter repair kits have been very helpful. Since my house was rebuilt, I have been able to prepare for the floods from sweeping away my house. Nowadays, we are still very afraid of such emergencies, but I have learnt to stay strong and be a wall of protection for my children and grandchildren " Maria shared. 

Through the trees, down a narrow path and multiple slopes, lives Senora Olinda, Balibar's eldest resident, who is around 100 years old. Having witnessed World War II, the independence of her country and various events throughout her years, her life is already a story of resilience and wisdom.  

Choosing to live a life dedicated to family and service, Olinda has cared for her sister’s children since they were born in the 1950s, planting the seed of strength and perseverance within the family.  

In 2021, Olinda shared with IOM, "I woke up to Seroja early in the morning when it was still dark. Living alone, I was terrified my house would collapse or explode." Olinda found shelter in her sister’s house, and IOM supported her and the family to rebuild back then. 

Three years on, Olinda says that she finds joy in her days now, tending to her livestock, and caring for her great-grandchildren. Occasionally, she immerses herself in gardening, planting and harvesting fresh products to prepare meals for the generations in her family as they come together in her home. 

In Timor-Leste, climate change exacerbates the risks of disasters and environmental degradation. Working to enhance the resilience of affected communities and displaced populations, IOM is supporting people who want to stay in their home areas by increasing investments in disaster risk reduction measures and local adaptation through programmes on disaster risk reduction and protection. 

With such assistance, Katarina, Maria and Olinda, along with countless other women in Timor-Leste, have begun to rebuild their lives with newfound resilience.

Their stories, enriched by their own words, have been a testament to what women can achieve when equipped with strength, support and the determination to protect their families and communities. 

Written by: Sarah Al Jameel, Media and Communication, IOM Timor-Leste, saliabed@iom.int.