This an independent study of OCHA’s actions before, during and after the immediate crisis period in Timor in 1999. According to the Terms of Reference, the purpose of the study is to “draw out concise and action-oriented lessons” in order that OCHA may “improve humanitarian preparedness, intervention and coordination in future complex emergency environments”. OCHA’s Timor response offers a powerful argument for a commitment to a more field-based coordination approach. This report therefore examines the details of the operation and how OCHA can become a predictable field co-ordinating service.