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)