Patrícia Jerónimo 2007; Carter 2011: 665-667). Over half of the civilian population (more than 500,000 persons) was displaced, with a significant number (the estimates range between 250,000 and 300,000 persons) fleeing to or being forced to move to West Timor (Schreuer 2000: 20; Harrington 2007), which created a ‘very complex refugee case-load’ (UNHCR EPAU 2004: 12)54. UNAMET was unable to intervene and most of its staff was evacuated (Schreuer 2000: 20). On 15 September 1999, by Resolution 1264 (1999),55 the Security Council authorised the establishment of a multinational force under a unified command structure with the task to restore peace and security in East Timor, to protect and support UNAMET in carrying out its tasks and to facilitate humanitarian assistance operations. The International Force for East Timor (INTERFET), led by Australia, arrived in East Timor on 20 September 1999 and put an end to the violence (UNHCR EPAU 2004: 12). A month later, on 19 October 1999, the Indonesian People’s Consultative Assembly ratified the results of the popular consultation and recognised East Timor’s separation from the rest of the Republic (Sousa 2001: 299). Indonesian military and police withdrew completely by 1 November 1999 (Schreuer 2000: 21). With the arrival of INTERFET, mass returns of internally displaced persons and of the East Timorese refugees in Indonesia begun almost immediately. The first ‘returnee’ flight from Kupang was organised by UNHCR on 10 October 1999 (UNHCR EPAU 2004: 12). Return flows from West Timor dried up in 2000, raising security concerns for East Timor and making repatriation not only a humanitarian but also a political objective. According to the UNHCR, approximately 225,000 persons (nearly 90% of the refugees) returned to East Timor (UNHCR EPAU 2004: 1-2, 25). 2.3. Membership criteria under UNTAET Following its invitation to the Secretary-General to plan and prepare for a United Nations transitional administration in East Timor, incorporating a peacekeeping operation,56 the Security Council decided, by Resolution 1272 (1999) of 25 October 1999,57 to establish, in accordance with the report of the Secretary-General, a United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET), for an initial period until 31 January 2001.58 UNTAET was endowed with overall responsibility for the administration of East Timor and 54 ‘East Timorese society was split three ways: an estimated 250-280,000 or close to one third had taken refuge (or been forced to take refuge) in other parts of Indonesia, many of them in West Timor («refugees»), more than 300,000 were internally displaced to the mountain fastnesses within East Timor («IDPs»), and a minority had remained in their home areas («stayees»)’ (UNHCR EPAU 2004: 12). 55 Resolution 1264 (1999), of 15 September 1999, is available at https://documents-ddsny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N99/264/81/PDF/N9926481.pdf?OpenElement [08.01.2017]. 56 Resolution 1264 (1999), of 15 September 1999, cited, par. 11. 57 Available at https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N99/312/77/PDF/N9931277.pdf ?OpenElement [08.01.2017]. 58 Later extended until 20 May 2002, the date when Timor-Leste became officially independent and the UN presence in the territory transformed into the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET), per Security Council Resolution 1410 (2002), of 17 May 2002. UNMISET completed its mandate on 20 May 2005. Resolution 1410 (2002), of 17 May 2002, is available at http://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=S/RES/1410(2002) [11.01.2017]. UNMISET was followed by UNOTIL (United Nations Office in Timor-Leste), until May 2006, and by UNMIT (United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste), until August 2007 (Harrington 2007). 14 RSCAS/GLOBALCIT-CR 2017/7 - © 2017 Author