Disease affects 500 Nias refugees

Disease affects 500 Nias refugees

NIAS, North Sumatra: Measles and respiratory diseases have
affected about 500 victims of the recent natural disaster who are
currently accommodated in relief shelters.

Doctors sent from the North Sumatra capital of Medan said on
Monday that accurate data concerning the health problem was hard
to find because many of the refugees had left temporary
accommodation centers set up by the government.

"We find it difficult to monitor the latest situation because
many of the refugees have checked out of the accommodation," said
Poltak Simangunsong, a medical doctor sent in by the Indonesian
Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) office in Medan.

Poltak criticized the local government for being too slow in
rebuilding the damaged facilities; this had also hampered medical
assistance for victims living in outlying areas.

Over 100 people were killed in floods and landslides that
swept through the island in the Indian Ocean. (28)