Aftershock hits Simeulue,
\nIDPs suffering from illness<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post
\nBanda Aceh\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
An aftershock measuring 3.3 on the Richter scale hit the quake-
\ndevastated island of Simeulue off the west coast of mainland Aceh
\non Monday as survivors of last Saturday's 7.7 quake on the island
\nwere reportedly ill as aid flowed in slowly, an official said
\nMonday.<\/p>\n
The coordinator of the disaster relief task force in Simeulue,
\nNaskah bin Kamar, told The Jakarta Post on Monday that the mild
\naftershock frightened most of the 7,700 internally displaced
\npeople (IDP), who were unwilling to return to their devastated
\nhomes.<\/p>\n
"The aftershock was not significant, but it traumatized the
\npeople even more," Naskah told the Post.<\/p>\n
Naskah also said that several aid packages had arrived,
\nincluding six tons of rice, noodles, sugar and coffee.<\/p>\n
Currently he is coordinating seven IDP camps across the
\nisland, including five in Sinabang town.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, the aid was far below what was needed for the
\n7,700 people, and most of all, medicine had become scarce, said a
\nlocal official named Irwan Basir.<\/p>\n
"Of the 7,700, around 1,000 people -- mainly children and
\nelderly -- are now suffering from diarrhea and fever," said Irwan
\nBasir as quoted by AFP.<\/p>\n
Two people were killed, dozens of others injured during the
\nquake that left thousands homeless.<\/p>\n
The dead victims, Jamiah, 60, and Badai, 30, were buried in
\ntheir villages on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Latest reports showed the quake destroyed 356 buildings and
\ndamaged 1,054 others, Basir said.<\/p>\n
Many island residents spent the night sleeping in the open
\nfearing further aftershocks. At least 14 aftershocks have hit the
\nisland since the first quake.<\/p>\n
Basir said administrators had persuaded around 3,000 people --
\nout of some 4,500 who fled their villages due to fears of a tidal
\nwave -- to return to their damaged homes.<\/p>\n
Officials estimated on Monday that the quake that hit the
\nremote island had inflicted Rp 58.8 billion (US$6.4 million) in
\nmaterial losses.<\/p>\n
Spokesman for the Simeulue administration Joni Rizal told
\nAntara news agency that the quake fractured the foundations,
\nbeams, walls and roofs of government buildings. The damage had
\ndisrupted all government activities and public services, the
\nofficial said.<\/p>\n
"The majority of the civil servants are not going to their
\noffices because they are afraid if they enter their offices, the
\nfractured buildings can collapse anytime," Joni said.<\/p>\n
The news agency, however, reported that activities at the
\ntrade center in Sinabang, the capital of Simeulue regency, had
\ngradually returned to normal with several shops and kiosks
\nresuming business on Monday.<\/p>\n
The quake was felt as far away as the Aceh capital, Banda
\nAceh, and Medan city in neighboring North Sumatra province.<\/p>\n
There were no reports of injuries or damage in those cities.<\/p>\n
An official at the Aceh provincial social agency, Sulaiman
\nDaudi, said his agency was ready to send ten tons of rice to the
\nquake victims but gave no details on when and how the aid would
\nreach the victims in Simeulue.<\/p>\n
Besides rice, 1,000 sheets would also be distributed.<\/p>\n
Separately, the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) and the
\nInternational Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) have also sent
\naid relief to the island.<\/p>\n
PMI executive chairman Sanusi Maha said three truckloads of
\nmedicine, blood bags, blankets, instant noodles and other goods
\nhad been sent from Banda Aceh to Simeulue via Meulaboh in West
\nAceh on Monday afternoon.<\/p>\n
The relief aid was expected to reach the island on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, most of the 70 quake victims who had been treated
\nat Simeulue General Hospital had returned home. As of Monday,
\nthere were only seven people who remained in the hospital. One of
\nthem, Afandi, 40, was in critical condition.<\/p>\n
Simeulue Regent Darmili said he would continue to provide
\nmedical care for the victims.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/aftershock-hits-simeulue-1447899208",
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