Drought sparks skin irritation

KEBUMEN, Central Java: The ongoing drought here has forced residents of no less than 37 villages in this regency to drastically reduce their consumption of water to basic needs only.

Many of the villagers are refraining themselves from wasting water for bathing or washing.

"Finding drinking water is difficult enough, so just think what it is like for bathing. We have to walk five kilometers to get two gallons of water," Sumarto, 45, said, adding that he takes a bath and washes his clothes every two to three days.

This lack of hygiene has caused widespread skin irritation among villagers.

Head of the regency administration's social welfare unit, Syamsul Bahri, said the skin disease occurred most in the hardest-hit districts of Prembun, Alian, Kebumen, Sadang and Pejagoan.

Syamsul said the local administration had asked for help from the state water company and related institutions to anticipate the worsening effects of drought. -- JP