Yogyakarta Quake Victims Face Diseases
BANTUL (JAVA), May 31 (Bernama) — Thousands of victims in the Yogyakarta earthquake now face water-borne diseases following five days of not receiving fresh water.
The situation is made worse by the late delivery of aid to the interior regions including Bantul and Klaten.
The earthquake claimed nearly 5,000 lives while 230,000 more lost their homes.
Siti Saadiah, 42, said her house was completely destroyed in the earthquake and she and her husband and two children were putting up in a tent in the Dusun Bembem area.
She had to use murky water from a river to wash her clothes and to drink.
Her children suffered from fever and stomach ache since the earthquake, she said.
Saadiah hoped the relevant authorities would speed up aid to the victims.
The Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) temporary hospital chief, Kol S. Jegathesan said the diseases would spread quickly once they struck due to the prevailing situation.
In another development, another 59 personnel from the Armed Forces, including four officers arrived here to set up a temporary hospital.
The hospital will be equipped with an operation hall and 100 beds.
He said the hospital would be able to provide treatment to 200 patients a day.
– BERNAMA
