Friends and Partners with East Timor Incorporated
EAST TIMOR (TIMOR_LESTE)

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Overview  –  Districts  –  Bobonaro  –  Atabae

Geography

Short history before 1999

From 1999 until 2004

The Situation Now

Map showing East Timor's proximity to Australia

Map showing how close East Timor is to Australia

Atabae subdistrict mountains looking west from Loes River

Atabae subdistrict mountains looking west from Loes River.

Dili Markets

One part of the extensive markets in Dili.


EAST TIMOR DISTRICTS

The table following is from a provisional report of the UNFPA Census of 2004. That report noted that while the overall population increase since 2001 was 17.4%, the fastest increases had been in Dili (39.3) and then in the western border areas of Oucussi (29.9%), Liquica (20.8%) and Bobonaro (17.8%). This in part reflects a recovery from the fighting and movement of people to escape the violence in 1999 which was extreme in the western border districts. The eastern districts have generally recorded the slowest growth since 2001.

District Population Area (km2) Capital
Aileu 36,889 729 Aileu
Ainaro 53,629 797 Ainaro
Baucau 104,571 1,494 Baucau
Bobonaro 82,385 1,368 Maliana
Cova Lima 55,941 1,226 Suai
Dili 167,777 372 Dili
Ermera 103,169 746 Ermera
Lautem 57,453 1,702 Los Palos
Liquica 55,058 543 Liquica
Manatuto 34,900 1,706 Manatuto
Manufahi 38,580 1,325 Same
Oecussi 58,521 Pante Macassar
Viqueque 66,434 1,781 Viqueque
TOTALS 924,642 14,604

BOBONARO DISTRICT

The Bobinaro district has six subdistricts with populations reported after the 2004 census as follows - Atabae 9,553; Balibo 13,602; Bobonaro 22,021; Cailaco 8,405; Lolotoe 7,021 and Maliana 21,783 making a total population of 82,385. Towns of the same names are the respective subdistrict administrative centres. The locations of these towns as well as the other East Timor districts and their capitals are shown on the East Timor map that can be accessed by the link above.

Friends and Partners with East Timor (FPET) has mainly been linked with the Atabae parish which coincides with the Atabae subdistrict. In the future it may however link with others in the Bobonaro district or the other western border districts.


ATABAE PARISH OR SUBDISTRICT

Atabae Parish or subdistrict covers an area of about 300 square kilometres adjacent to the West Timor border. It includes a western coastal strip and some rugged mountains rising to almost 1,000 metres. The Loes River, one of the few permanently flowing rivers in East Timor, defines the northern and eastern boundary. Being on the northern side of the island, the rainfall is generally similar to the 900mm annual rainfall of Dili. There is limited rain in April to June and very little from July to October. It is warm to hot all the year on the coast but the mountains have cooler nights and a bit more rainfall than the surrounding areas.

Atabae Parish Council Meeting

Atabae Parish Council members gathered for a meeting. Most have to walk many kilometres to attend these meetings.

Traditional Cottage

Houses range from this traditional type to cement block wall and corrugated iron roof style

There are about 9,000 people living in more than 20 villages of varying size. Family size averages about 4.7 persons but there are many widows and orphans. The main town and subdistrict centre, also called Atabae, is located on the coast and is home to over 2,000 people. Three other villages each have 800 to 1,000 people. These are Aidabaslala and Coilima located by the Loes River and Rairobo high in the central mountain area. The remaining villages are somewhat smaller and are quite scattered. Most people have to walk between villages and services are extremely limited.

Click here to see a map of Atabae parish or subdistrict showing the location of the main villages.