Without the ability to travel to Oecusse to get money from family for rent and food, students living in Dili are concerned about how they will survive if the lockdown and travel restrictions continue, Freadu said.

"Before the Dili Lockdown our parents in Oecusse sent money to us to meet our needs including to pay for the house rent but after the government implemented the Dili Lockdown in March all transportation activities have stopped,” Freadu told the Independente.

“Now it is very difficult to get money from our parents so there is no more money to pay for the house we rent,” he said.

Freudu said allowing students special consideration to travel by sea to Oecusse to access money from parents would prevent suffering from over 200 students from Oecusse living in Dili.
Lusia Taiki, from opposition party National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction, said the government must find a solution to support students.