L

OMBOK: Dozens of displaced victims are reportedly still living in makeshift shelters a week after a 5.4-magnitude earthquake hit the area and destroyed their homes in North Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB).

A neighborhood unit head in Pengembuk village, Kirti, said that there were only two tents to accommodate residents from several villages.

Some villagers have to build makeshift shelters made from bamboo and cogon grass to temporarily protect them from rain that occasionally hits the region. '€œWe need more tents and blankets,'€ said Marsih, a Pangembuk villager whose house was heavily damaged in the disaster.

Rescue coordinator in Tanjung district Anton said that the aid distribution was considered slow due to the remote locations of villages.

According to NTB Disaster Mitigation Agency and NTB Social Agency, the earthquake destroyed 5,286 homes in North Lombok when it hit the region on June 22. The disaster also wounded 50 people, and five of them suffered severe injuries.

North Lombok Deputy Regent Najmul Ahyar said the administration would help fix the damaged houses. The top priority, however, would be fixing public facilities, especially mosques, which will be needed by Muslims during the upcoming Ramadhan.