Timor refugees return to shattered homes

The first flight had 94 people on board, including nine children. A second plane, carrying 79 refugees, left Kupang later in the day.

Indonesian authorities say more than 250,000 people have crossed over into West Timor following the militia violence that erupted after the East Timorese voted massively for independence on August 30.

The majority of them, now housed in squalid, insecure camps, want to return to East Timor.

The first group to go home were taken in French Army trucks to Dili8217;s sports stadium, where hundreds of the city8217;s residents are living in makeshift shelters while they await the reconstruction of their burned-out homes.

As they arrived, the trucks were mobbed by hundreds of people clamouring to see if they recognised any faces.

After the initial jubilation, tears began to flow. quot;I am sad. My friends are not here,quot; said one tearful woman.

But for Christiano Hernandez there was the relief of spotting a friend she had feared dead. quot;I have not seen him for more than a month. I was scared he was not alive,quot; she said.

After health checks, the refugees were given rice, cooking utensils and plastic sheeting to help them set up their own shelters.

Word Food Programme spokeswoman Abby Spring said the refugees appeared to be in quot;reasonable conditionquot; after a month in the Indonesian-run camps.