16 Dec 2004

Relief work continues in Papua after last months major earthquake in Nabire

11:21 am on 16 December 2004

A medical officer in Indonesia says the government has been assisting with relief efforts in the Papua town of Nabire, following a major earthquake.

Last month's quake, which measured 6.4 on the Richter scale, killed 31 people and caused major damage, estimated at 55 million U.S. dollars.

Dr Kyaw Win, who works for the World Health Organisation's Emergency and Humanitarian Action team, says 1,130 people have since been re-located to Makassar, the provincial capital of South Sulawesi.

He says Indonesian officials have visited Nabire, where 7,000 people still live.

"The three ministers from public works, fisheries and environment visited the site and the biggest muslim organisation is also providing assistance. And president Magawati also visited and the vice president also visited."

Dr Win says the government has donated almost 3,000 tonnes of rice and over 200-thousand US dollars towards an emergency fund for victims.