He said the first priority was to provide seeds and tools for farmers before the end of this month so that they could begin planting immediately. We believe that economic recovery in East Timor must be led by the agricultural sector. He said decision-making should be left to local governments, and warned of the need to guard against corruption. We face a big challenge. There are no homes, no food.
Some people even have no clothing.
Mr Gusmao was captured by Indonesian troops in 1992 and sentenced to life imprisonment. After East Timor voted for independence in August, he was released, and is tipped to be the territory's first head of state. Funds pledged Much of the former Portuguese colony's infrastructure was destroyed in the wake of the vote when pro-Indonesian militias went on the rampage. Japan has said it will also provide aid to non-governmental organisations helping East Timorese refugees and send a mission to investigate further needs. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites Links to other Asia-Pacific stories are at the foot of the page.