Brussels, 05/06/2001 (Agence Europe) - The emerging administration of East Timor has started, thanks to international support, to place emphasis on the long-term economic and social development of the territory. However, persistent humanitarian needs are still seen. It is to answer them that the European Commission freed, on Tuesday, an aid of close to EUR 9.3 million. Managed by ECHO, EU humanitarian aid office, these funds are mainly aimed at the rehabilitation of some 500 school water and sanitation systems. This decision raises the total amount of humanitarian aid to East Timor to EUR 38.8 million since August 1999. Echo is considering progressively ending the humanitarian interventions in East Timor over the next 18 months. The country should then benefit from rehabilitation and development programmes financed by other European Commission instruments.