REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, MATARAM -- Earthquake evacuees in West Lombok district have begun to develop symptoms of such diseases as diarrhea, acute upper respiratory tract infection, and itchiness over their body, a doctor said. Around 100 evacuees per day treated in the evacuation command post.

"The cause of the diseases is poor sanitation and dusty air. Hence, many residents, from children to adults, have suffered from the diseases," doctor Basirun said in the evacuation command post at Guntur Macan village, West Lombok district on Thursday.

However, he explained that the number of evacuees treated at the command post for the diseases has gradually declined in the past few days compared to more than 100 in the early days of post-quake health care operations.

But despite the decline, he said medical workers will continue to monitor the evacuees' health so the number of evacuees treated for the diseases will not increase. "This is because they will still stay in the evacuee camps for a quite long time," he said.

A total of 2,816 residents are sheltered in evacuee camps at Guntur Macan village in West Lombok district.

Previously, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono said Lombok earthquake refugees need at least 500 bathing, washing and toilet (MCK) sanitation facilities. He made the statement after a limited cabinet meeting on the handling of the earthquake in North Lombok of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) province on August 10.

There are some 240 thousands of refugees who are being housed in some 500 refugee camps in West Nusa Tenggara. Hadimuljono said the types of assistance needed in the current emergency response include tents for getting rest, clean water supply and sanitation facilities (MCK).

The minister revealed that in North Lombok District, there are 12 artesian wells now being utilized to supply water. Besides that, 13 water tank trucks are also being operated to supply water to the refugee camps. He said that there were 12,278 houses with minor damage, 723 with moderate damage and 9,220 others with severe damage.

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