Refugees facing outbreak of disease

Refugees facing outbreak of disease

PALU, Central Sulawesi: Thousands of refugees of riot-torn
Poso sheltering in Lore Utara subdistrict here are wary of
contracting diseases after 20 of them became ill with diarrhea,
malaria or upper respiratory track infection in the past week,
Antara reported.

Head of the subdistrict Udji Mondolu said the patients are now
being treated at the local community health center, but with
limited facilities and drugs.

"So far, no fatalities have been reported, but I hope
provincial and district health institutions send medical staff
and medicines here to save the refugees quickly," he said.

He added the people also need other supplies like rice,
instant noodles and blankets.

Residents of Poso fled their homes to Lore Utara following
sectarian riots on May 23. Officials recorded that as of June 25,
at least 2,000 families from Poso have been sheltered in the
subdistrict. (09)