Majalengka quake victims need aid, medical staff

Majalengka quake victims need aid, medical staff

JAKARTA (JP): Thousands of people made homeless after the 5.9-
on-the-Richter-scale earthquake in Majalengka, West Java, are
suffering from acute respiratory problems amid a lack of aid.

Majalengka Deputy Regent M. Iqbal said the local government
was running short of food and medical supplies for the homeless
victims. So far there was only a limited number of healthcare
professionals available to help the victims.

"We really hope for more food, medicine and medical
professionals to help us," Iqbal said as quoted by Antara on
Sunday.

He added that the continuing cold weather and strong winds
were spreading influenza and cough among those left homeless.

He said that so far most of the medical workers had come from
the local Red Cross and a number of community health centers in
the regency.

The earthquake severely damaged thousands of houses and public
facilities, but no fatalities were reported.

Iqbal estimated material losses from the earthquake as being
some Rp 59.4 billion (US$5.4million). However, property damage in
remote areas had not yet been assessed.

Meanwhile, West Java police have distributed Rp 10 million and
two tons of rice to the earthquake victims on Sunday.

A Rp 3 million donation was also presented by the Indonesian
Large Motorbike Association (IMBI) to Iqbal on Sunday.

Aid in the form of two tons of rice and 175 boxes of instant
noodles were also presented by Cirebon Police. (dja)