73 Aceh refugees die from diseases in last two months
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)