REFUGEE

Fear of disease has emerged as one of the main worries in the aftermath of the devastating tsunami in the Pacific.

While the relief and recovery effort is well under way, thousands of people are still in temporary accommodation in Samoa, American Samoa and Tonga.

Correspondent Peter Cave has told Pacific Beat, the main concerns are the restoration of proper sanitation and water supplies, and the health of those who have fled to the hills without seeking medical treatment for their injuries.

He says given the amount of filth tossed up by the tsunami, even little cuts and scratches can if you have them all over your body, prove life threatening if you don't have proper medicine.

The other worry is the fact that the sewerage, electricity and water systems have been knocked out in a lot of villages.

Peter Cave says local authorities are working frantically to make sure there is at the very least enough fresh water and proper sanitation to prevent an outbreak of endemic diseases like diarrhoea.