ADB pledges to help E. Timor

ADB pledges to help E. Timor

MANILA (AP): The Asian Development Bank pledged Tuesday to help the UN and the World Bank in rebuilding East Timor, which was ravaged by violence after voting to break free from Indonesia.

In letters to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and World Bank President James Wolfensohn, ADB President Tadao Chino said the Manila-based bank will work closely with donor agencies in providing help to the territory.

"We are all aware of the deep human tragedy that has affected East Timor. And it is appropriate that all concerned donor agencies coordinate to provide both humanitarian as well as development assistance quickly," Chino said.

The ADB's pledge follows a meeting of donors at the World Bank last month on possible development assistance to East Timor. A joint donor mission is due in East Timor later this month.

The ADB said it will work on helping improve East Timor's ability to deliver basic services such as health care, education, power and water. It will also help rehabilitate damaged infrastructure, it said.