73 Aceh refugees die from diseases in last two months

JAKARTA (JP): At least 73 people have died in refugee camps in Aceh over the past two months, while 45,000 people are still in shelters, an official said on Friday.

The head of the province's health crisis center, Ibrahim Hasyim, said most of the deaths were the result of fever, diarrhea and other diseases in shelters in North Aceh, Pidie and East Aceh.

"Most of the camps receive minimal aid," Ibrahim was quoted as saying by Antara.

Up to 180,000 residents fled their homes over the past few months, saying they were escaping harassment and violence involving the military and armed groups.

The Pidie regency alone hosted up to 58,000 refugees.

From Sigli, the capital of Pidie regency, residents of the Meureudu district reported on Friday the harassment of residents and volunteers helping displaced people. While thousands of refugees have returned to their homes, many said they were still too afraid to leave the mosques and schools they were sheltering in.

The coordinator of the independent Committee for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence in Pidie, Syahrul Nurfa, reported on Friday a number of residents had been specifically targeted for harassment.

Citing the reports of residents, Syahrul said security personnel often asked them the whereabouts of certain villagers.

Syahrul said he would consult with the local military and police commanders to coordinate the return of the remaining refugees.

Pidie Police chief Lt. Col. Endang E. Bagus said residents should report any harassment to police, who would provide them protection.

Security personnel and scores of residents have been killed in Aceh recently, most by unidentified assailants.

A school principal, Satras, was found dead on a road connecting Meulaboh and Banda Aceh early Thursday. He had been shot in the head, abdomen and thigh, the local Serambi daily reported.

The 50-year-old principal at Rimba Lambalek elementary school in West Aceh, was abducted from his home in Suak Timah by unidentified people late Wednesday.

In Banda Aceh on Friday, Antara quoted Governor Syamsuddin Mahmud as saying the prolonged conflict and uncertain security could cause the delay of World Bank aid to the province.

"Security disturbances have influenced international trust," Syamsuddin said on Thursday.

The aid, part of a project to improve basic education, is scheduled to be distributed to Aceh, South Sumatra and East Java.

However, with more than 100 schools which have been set on fire since last year, the last few which occurred this week, the World Bank is likely to divert the aid elsewhere, Syamsuddin said. (emf/51/edt)