2,000 residents leave Nabire

JAYAPURA, Papua: At least 2,000 residents of quake-hit Nabire have left the town to find more suitable shelter elsewhere in Papua or outside the province, according to witnesses.

Many residents have left Nabire because of continuing aftershocks and also because of the threat of disease.

"Living in tents leaves people vulnerable to disease. Also, there are still aftershocks, so we decided to leave Nabire," said Wirda Fakaubun, a local resident, on Saturday.

There are now at least 1,000 people in Nabire suffering from one of the many illnesses that have swept through the town in the aftermath of the devastating Feb. 6 earthquake, an increase from 803 on Thursday.

According to the Papua Natural Disaster and Refugee Management Task Force in Nabire, residents are suffering from malaria, dysentery and respiratory problems.

Mardianto from the Nabire office of the Meteorology and Geophysics Agency, predicted the aftershocks would stop by Feb. 18, saying they were dropping sharply in intensity.

At least 37 people died in the Feb. 6 quake, though this figure might increase. Another 592 residents were injured in the earthquake.

The Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) presented aid on Saturday to the victims of the quake. The aid, which was presented by PMI chairman Mar'ie Muhammad to Nabire Regent A.P. Youw, included 2,000 jerricans and 2,000 mosquito nets. -- JP