The Jakarta Globe, July 9, 2013
Survivors of the earthquake that struck Aceh last week are facing a new threat, as thousands of refugees cope with from diseases at the emergency tents established by the government and local volunteers.
Subhan Sahara, head of the Central Aceh Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD), said on Tuesday that many of the more than 48,000 survivors spread out across 70 evacuation points have contracted diseases.
“Some have fallen sick with various illnesses, especially children and the elderly,” Subhan said, adding that some camps lack a supply of clean water.
The BPBD said that 2,150 refugees have been afflicted with health problems including fever, diarrhea and upper respiratory tract infection (ISPA).
Sick people are receiving medical treatment at the evacuation shelters, while some have been taken to local hospitals, Subhan said.
Dede Bisma Kucoro, head of a volunteer medical team from North Sumatra Islamic University, said up to 400 people have contracted ISPA as a result of the unclean air and high levels of dust that followed the quake.
“Locals who have been diagnosed with ISPA are given medicine, but none are suffering from chronic ISPA,” Dede said, as quoted by Okezone.com
Dede called on the government and volunteers to continue their efforts to access isolated areas and administer aid amid fear of spreading diseases.
Subhan said the flow of aid into some shelters had run smoothly, but the government missed several emergency shelters, mainly those accommodating families.
The large number of victims and their spread across remote areas in the province contributed to difficulty in delivering aid.
“The spread of refugees who are separated and the large area [affected by the earthquake] have seen some refugees receive poorer management [than others]. The team is continuing its efforts so that all victims may receive aid,” Subhan said.
Schools hit hard
A report by news agency Antara said up to 372 school buildings in the Central Aceh and Bener Meriah districts were severely damaged following the 6.2-magnitude earthquake that hit the province on July 2. Within the damaged schools, a total of 1,907 classrooms, teachers’ lounges, libraries and laboratories were harmed by the quake.
Elementary schools suffered the most damage, with 659 rooms torn apart, while a total of 152 rooms at high school were damaged.
According to Anas Adam, head of the Aceh administration education office, the earthquake caused such immense damage to some school facilities that they will be beyond saving.
Anas predicted the reconstruction of schools would take a long time and said the government will establish temporary classrooms so that educational activities can resume.
Anas added that Unicef has offered to support education activities in the affected areas, raising hopes that the new academic year will be able to start as scheduled.
Unicef will also work with the education office on a “trauma healing” program for young survivors at three evacuation points in Central Aceh and Bener Meriah, Anas said. “We will be focusing this trauma healing in evacuation points with the most number of refugees,” Anas said, as quoted by Antara.
For the program, Unicef will provide three counselors from the Ministry of Social Affairs, supported by teachers from the childhood education program in Central Aceh and Bener Meriah, to help students cope.
Yudhoyono visits
Several government officials have visited the affected areas to meet with the victims and ensure the availability of aid.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Tuesday visited the Central Aceh district, accompanied by his wife Ani.
Several minister also visited the site, including Coordinating Minister for People’s Welfare Agung Laksono, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto, Social Affairs Minister Salim Segaf Al Jufri and Public Works Minister Djoko Kirmanto. National Police chief Gen. Timur Pradopo also visited.
Quake survivor Nurani, 40, told visiting government officials of her struggles following the earthquake.
“We were here throughout the earthquake. None of our belongings could be saved,” she said through tears.
Nurani urged rescue teams to continue their search for victims, including her son, Ali Hasyimi, and her husband, Jalil, although she believed they died in a landslide after the earthquake.
In response to Nurani’s request, Yudhoyono promised to mobilize help from the government to find missing victims.
“I will deploy the military, the police, a task force and other government entities to find the missing victims,” he said. “If the Lord wants them to continue living, that will be by his grace. But if he has other plans, we will have to continue searching until we find their bodies.”
On Monday, Fachtulhadi, chief secretary of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNBP), said the government will focus rehabilitation efforts on rebuilding residents’ damaged homes before revamping infrastructure.
BNBP data released on Tuesday showed that 52,113 people lost their homes in the quake, comprising 19,984 Bener Meriah residents and 32,129 Central Aceh residents.
The agency said 16,019 houses were damaged, comprising 6,178 requiring severe repairs, 3,061 in need of moderate renovations and 6,780 with mild damage.
A wait for compensation
In 2006, the government provided Rp 30 million ($3,000) to those with severely damaged homes after the Yogyakarta earthquake, while owners of moderately damaged homes received Rp 15 million.
Homeowners whose structures suffered mild damage were granted Rp 5 million for repairs.
The amount of aid to be provided for damaged homes in Aceh is to be decided by the Ministry of Finance.
Fachtulhadi said data and calculations for aid is due to be finalized within 14 days and the final rehabilitation budget is predicted to be issued by next Wednesday.
“It has not been a week, we will ensure correct assessment [over the damage] to avoid incorrect data,” he said on Monday.
During his visit to Aceh, Yudhoyono offered words of comfort and motivation to victims and handed out aid in the form of thick blankets and other items.
“We never ask for disasters. This is a test. We will rise together. The damaged houses will be rebuilt. We have to be patient,” Yudhoyono said.
The Central Aceh district head on Sunday told the Jakarta Globe that 48,563 survivors were spread across dozens of refugee points.
The number of damaged public facilities totaled 626 units, including clinics and other medical facilities, houses of worship, school buildings, government offices and official housings for doctors and paramedics.
At least 40 people were killed in the quake, while hundreds of others were injured.
Last Tuesday’s quake was one of several temblors this month. On Saturday, the Indian Ocean island of Mentawai was shaken by a 6.1-magnitude earthquake, while on Monday Malang in East Java was shaken by a 5.9-magnitude quake. Neither lead to significant damage or any loss of life
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wo 10 jul 2013 - 7:22