Quake victims laid low by disease<\/p>\n
Yemris Fointuna, The Jakarta Post, Alor<\/p>\n
At least 811 people have been treated for various diseases
\nincluding diarrhea, malaria and respiratory ailments in Alor,
\nEast Nusa Tenggara, raising fears of disease outbreaks in the
\nquake-stricken regency.<\/p>\n
Alor health office head Paul Manumpil warned on Saturday that
\nmore quake victims were likely to fall ill as thousands of them
\nwere still staying in open spaces and mountain slopes.<\/p>\n
\"The sanitation at makeshift shelters is poor. Diarrhea could
\neasily spread since most of the quake victims are still sleeping
\nin the open air and could be bitten by mosquitoes which could
\nspread malaria,\" Paul told the media on Saturday morning.<\/p>\n
An earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter Scale struck the
\nregency two weeks ago, killing at least 31 people and injuring
\nsome 300 others, and destroying over 17,000 buildings.<\/p>\n
Local authorities said that the natural disaster caused an
\nestimated Rp 100 billion (US$11.1 million) in damages and also
\nforced over 50,000 people to stay away from their homes, sleeping
\nin unprotected, open areas.<\/p>\n
At least 117 people are suffering from respiratory ailments,
\n79 from malaria, 31 from diarrhea and hundreds of others from
\nvarious other ailments, as of Saturday.<\/p>\n
\"I am worried that these three diseases will spread and that
\nwould be another disaster for the victims. We need help to
\ncontain any spread,\" Paul said.<\/p>\n
The local administration has distributed antibiotics,
\nsupplementary food for children and medication for malaria.<\/p>\n
\"We are still waiting for mosquito nets from the Ministry of
\nHealth so we can cover the shelters and prevent further cases of
\nmalaria,\" Paul said.<\/p>\n
Three of the nine districts badly affected by the quake were
\nstill experiencing a shortage of clean water. Water in many of
\nthe wells in the regency have turned brownish and salty with a
\nbad odor, making it almost impossible for the locals to use the
\nwater for their daily needs.<\/p>\n
The district of Northeast Alor experienced the worst water
\nshortage, forcing local people to walk up to three kilometers to
\nget clean water.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, two quake victims died on Saturday and another one
\non Friday evening, bringing the death toll to 31.<\/p>\n
The latest victims were Alfa Demerince Lowen, three, Obet
\nMailani, 42, and Karolina Padamai, 45.<\/p>\n
The number of fatalities are likely to increase as rescue
\nteams are still trying to reach isolated villages and many
\nvictims are still in a critical condition.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, more assistance began pouring into the regency,
\nincluding from former president Megawati Soekarnoputri, who
\ndonated Rp 100 million (US$11,200).<\/p>\n
The former president handed over the donation during her one-
\nday visit to the regency on Friday.<\/p>\n
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) also donated
\nRp 1.12 billion. JICA resident representative Kato Keiichi handed
\nover the donation to East Nusa Tenggara Governor Piet A. Tallo on
\nSaturday.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/quake-victims-laid-low-by-disease-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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