Diarrhea kills 11 in Aceh

A diarrhea outbreak has hit the strife-torn province of Aceh, claiming six more human lives early this week, local health officials say.

"The epidemic has spread to Jaya and Sampoeniet sub-districts. The six died on Wednesday and Thursday while 42 others are still undergoing intensive medical treatment in several public health centers in the province," the head of the West Aceh health office, Ibnu Hajar, said here Thursday.

The epidemic broke out in Setia Bakti sub-district, West Aceh, last month when three people died and 36 others were hospitalized on Nov. 23.

In South Aceh, a total of 40 villagers were being treated in public health centers in the Blang Pidie, Susoh and Tangan-Tangan sub-districts.

In a separate development, four people were killed in fresh violence in province on Thursday, bringing the death toll to 21 since the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) marked its 25th anniversary on Dec. 4.

Aceh military spokesman, Lt. Col. Firdaus, said Thursday that two of the dead were GAM members killed during a clash in Patek village in West Aceh.

The Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) said two other bodies were unidentified and recovered in Aceh Besar regency on Wednesday and Thursday. Both bodies were being kept at the Zainoel Abidin General Hospital.

"The first victim's body was shot while the other one was stabbed to death," Red Cross worker Muslim Tanjung said. --JP