At a Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) first aid and administration post, at or near the Dili Beach ...

At a Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) first aid and administration post, at or near the Dili Beach refugee transit site, an MFS worker records the details of an East Timorese refugee who has just returned from West Timor. Checks are being carried out for malaria and tuberculosis. MSF, known in English as Doctors Without Borders, is an international humanitarian aid organisation which provides emergency medical assistance to populations in danger. Following the overwhelming vote for independence by the East Timorese on 30 August 1999 in the United Nations (UN) sponsored referendum, the pro-Indonesian militia launched a campaign of destruction, arson and murder, killing approximately 1500 people and forcing 300 000 others into West Timor as refugees. On 15 September, the UN issued a resolution, calling for a multinational force to restore peace and security and facilitate humanitarian assistance operations. By 20 September 1999, the first coalition force began deploying to East Timor as part of the Australian-led International Force for East Timor (INTERFET) and refugees commenced returning to East Timor.