Thousands of quake survivors living in several makeshift tents in West Papua in easternmost Indonesia have started suffering from diseases due to poor sanitation and hygiene, a paper said in Jakarta Wednesday.

Villagers of the Sidey district of the Manokwari regency, some 120 kilometers from Manokwari city, have been exposed to numerous illnesses, with most of them suffering from diarrhea as they drink raw water and many babies sleep without cover.

"We request immediate help. Relief aid is gathering in the city, but we are not cared for because we have not received assistance as of this moment," Henri, a local teacher was quoted by the Jakarta Post as saying.

During their stay in makeshift tents, residents have been taking water from the nearby river to drink. "There is no firewood to cook. We drink water directly from the river," said Henri.

As many as 45 families, or around 200 people in Sidey villages, have taken refuge from the quake.

Those who have the means can afford to buy tarpaulins to shelter, but those who do not are forced to stay under the trees and shrubs and sleep on dried leaves.

Meanwhile, the government claimed Tuesday that it had managed to deal with the impacts of the powerful earthquakes in Manokwari, the capital of West Papua.

After meeting with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to report on mitigation efforts, Public Works Minister Djoko Kirmanto said that the central and provincial administration had jointly overcome the impacts of the earthquakes that started to hit the city early Sunday morning.

Following the president's instruction, Djoko and three other ministers visited the region on Monday to deliver cash aid and supplies.

(Xinhua News Agency January 7, 2009)