An estimated 10.000 to 12.000 Indonesian troops. backed by helicopters. tanks. and aircraft began counterinsurgency actions. Collateral damage and deaths resulting from this military offensive was. unfortunately. the least of the problems facing the people of East Timor. Sources within the Catholic Church claimed the counterinsurgency actions had completely disrupted the already precarious food supplies in the territory of the 700.000 Timorese. Indonesian troops had destroyed crops and prevented the farmers of Timor from reaching their fields or foraging food in the forests. In the central and eastern regions of Timor. food shortages were aggravated by a flood of refugees. At least 100.000 civilians died in the resulting famine. The situation grew worse.
Keywords matched
refugees