Sanitary Conditions Worsen: Bantul, Central Java, Indonesia

Take any major disaster around the world and, once the dust has settled, it is always inevitable that that sanitary conditions deteriorate causing the spread of diseases.

The worst hit area from the earthquake in Yogyakarta recently was the Bantul region. A high proportion of deaths and injuries occurred there and now wells and streams in many villages have become polluted because of the poor sanitary conditions. Most of the homeless are living in makeshift shelters often just plastic tarps with no toilets or running water. The situation with Gunung Merapi worsens also with the ash fallout polluting some sections of the waterways.

Aid agencies stepped up supplies of clean water and latrines, but warn unsanitary conditions could lead to a wave of diarrhoea and skin diseases, as well as infecting cuts and breaks sustained in the quake.

I talked to Candika this afternoon and she reassured me that the sewerage systems within the centre of the city of Yogyakarta were functioning properly and the water flow from the taps was relatively clear.

It will take a long time before the city bounces back to its normal self. First and most important is the housing construction to begin and, in my opinion, this is where the foreign agencies should play a vital part. Unfortunately in Indonesia this process is slow and as in Aceh, funds for these projects go astray and even worse rainforest timber is used.