Refugees die in poor conditions

TUAL, Maluku: At least 15 out of about 20,000 Muslims sheltered in squalid conditions in seven makeshift refugee centers here died in June because of food and clean water shortages and exposure to bad weather.

Three of the dead were infants.

Antara quoted activist Halik Roroa as saying in the capital of Southeast Maluku regency on Saturday that the refugees, who fled religious clashes pitting Muslims against Christians, were now accommodated in Ohoitahait, Dullah, Tual, Tamedan, Siritan, PT Dinamika Bahari Sejahtera dormitory and Tual naval air base.

"Most of them, especially small children and the elderly, are undernourished and have to sleep on the floor without mats or mattresses," Halik said.

Head of the regency health office Dr. Johanis fled the region when the unrest broke out earlier this year.

Regent Husein Rahayaan said his office had set a budget of Rp 7.5 billion to build 1,400 small houses for the refugees.

As many as 100,000 refugees from the clashes in Maluku, in which more than 400 people have died, are now sheltered in various places including in Buton, Southeast Sulawesi. (swe)