Refugees die in poor conditions

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)