Respiratory problems hit refugees in Aceh<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Health problems have added to the misery of thousands of Acehnese
\nrefugees since they abandoned their homes for camps to evade
\ngunfights between government troops and separatist rebels in the
\nprovince.<\/p>\n
A spokesman for the provincial social affairs agency,
\nBurhanuddin, said cases of upper tract respiratory infection and
\ndiarrhea had been found in the most crowded camp in Cot Gapu
\nfield in Bireuen regency.<\/p>\n
He blamed poor sanitation and a lack of clean water for the
\ndiseases, but short stopped of detailing local government
\nmeasures to deal with the health problems.<\/p>\n
Many of some 10,000 people from Juli district sheltering in
\nthe camp, situated one kilometer from the heart of downtown
\nBireuen, demanded that they be allowed to return to their homes,
\nsaying they could not stand the unhygienic conditions at the
\ncamp.<\/p>\n
There are only 20 bath rooms for the refugees in the camp,
\nwhich was built by the government.<\/p>\n
\"There is no water available for wudhu (ritual ablution for
\nMuslims), let alone for bathing. Many of us cannot pray due to
\nthe absence of water,\" Hasanah, one of the refugees, said.<\/p>\n
Aceh is a predominantly Muslim province, where sharia has
\ntaken effect as part of the special autonomy package granted to
\nthe territory to curb the demand for independence.<\/p>\n
There are over 40,000 displaced people across Aceh, 16,000 of
\nthem in Bireuen and the rest scattered across nine regencies in
\nthe province.<\/p>\n
Burhanuddin said the number of refugees once exceeded 62,000.<\/p>\n
He said the local government had distributed rice, canned
\nfood, coconut oil, sugar, powdered milk for children below five
\nyears old and clothes to the refugees.<\/p>\n
Responding to the refugees' demand to be allowed to return to
\ntheir homes, military spokesman Lt. Col. Achmad Yani Basuki said
\nthey could leave only if security had been restored in their
\nresidential areas.<\/p>\n
The evacuation of people is part of military efforts to avoid
\ncivilian casualties during the operation to crush the rebels, who
\nhave blended in with people while waging guerrilla warfare.<\/p>\n
Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Gen. Endriartono Sutarto
\nsaid in Jakarta it would take around four months to effectively
\nseparate the rebels from civilians.<\/p>\n
\"Separating civilians from GAM is the most difficult phase in
\nour operation because some civilians are also relatives of GAM
\nrebels,\" Endriartono said.<\/p>\n
He said the TNI would intensify its offensive to occupy GAM
\nbases as soon as the rebels were separated from civilians.<\/p>\n
After nearly one month since the military operation began, the
\nTNI claims to have killed 202 rebels, but only dozens of weapons
\nhave been seized.<\/p>\n
Endriartono said he was curious about the discrepancy between
\nthe number of rebels shot dead and arms confiscated. \"We are
\nstill analyzing these facts,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He also denied allegations that two F-16 jet fighters deployed
\non Monday had killed civilians. He said the use of warplanes to
\nattack separatist bases was aimed at showing the Indonesian
\npublic that the TNI is stronger than the rebel group.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/respiratory-problems-hit-refugees-in-aceh-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}