Syofiardi Bachyul Jb, The Jakarta Post, Padang
Two more earthquake survivors from the Mentawai Islands regency, West Sumatra, have died, with dozens of others living in makeshift shelters having fallen ill.
Sabau Sirilogui, 47, from Sigapokna hamlet in North Siberut died Monday after being rushed to Pokai village by boat to be treated at a community health center.
Juara Sakerebau, 56, died Sunday at a shelter in Brambang, North Siberut.
The coordinator of the Mentawai Customary People's Alliance in North Siberut, Mugi Misno, said Juara died from malaria, while it was not clear what caused Sabau's death.
""When the quake struck on Sept. 12, Juara was already sick and was taken to a shelter in Brambang, four kilometers from Pokai, due to fears of a tsunami. But his condition deteriorated at the shelter,"" Misno said.
He attributed the worsening health of earthquake survivors to the poor conditions at the shelters, which have no walls and offer little protection from the weather.
""The displaced residents live in poor conditions. In the first week after the disaster, they ate anything they could find.
""We received food assistance last Thursday from the district administration, consisting of sacks of rice and 30 boxes of instant noodles. We have also started receiving assistance from non-governmental organizations,"" Misno said.
Some 40 displaced families in Pokai were yet to receive medical assistance, he added.
""Displaced residents are generally still quite traumatized by the disaster,"" Misno said.
Since the Sept. 12 earthquake, two babies from Pagai Island and an elderly man from South Siberut have died in the shelters they were living in.
The head of the Sikabaluan community health center in North Siberut, Jimmy Ambarita, said the center had provided medical treatment at several shelters, but remote hamlets and villages, including Pokai, were hard to reach.
""We haven't set up special medical posts, but a medical team visits shelters in Takmairang to treat survivors. Each day, the team treats around five people,"" he said.
He said most patients seeking treatment were suffering from respiratory infections.
However, the team only has access to medical supplies from the community health center.
""Our medical supplies are starting to decline and may run out soon if fresh supples do not arrive,"" Jimmy said.
According to data from the Citra Mandiri Foundation, a non-governmental organization based in Mentawai, almost 15,000 residents are still living in shelters.
Some people moved to shelters after their homes were damaged by the earthquake, while others fled their houses fearing aftershocks and a possible tsunami.
Foundation activist Tasmin Saogo said most displaced residents were in urgent need of medical attention and supplies.
He said only displaced people in larger towns had received medical treatment to date.
""Thousands of residents live in remote hamlets such as Pokai. Many of them have sought safety in shelters.
""Before the quake struck, medical services in Mentawai were limited and now the situation is worse. The government should pay attention to this problem,"" Tasmin said.
