Imphal, April 01 2009: Apprehension on the outbreak of an epidemic is looming large in view of the congestion and poor sanitation among the displaced villagers from Assam due to lack of proper accommodation and scarcity of water in the Tousem villages in Manipur's Tamenglong district.

Presently there are around 260 Zeliangrong villagers including around 160 at a relief camp at Mandeu village in Manipur in the wake of violence in the mixed communities populated North Cachar Hills of Assam.There are also reports of more villagers taking shelter in the houses of their relatives without getting proper food from the authorities concerned.

Most of the refugees were women and children.

Villagers of Tousem are also worried of shortage of food once their stock is over.

"We worried because we've a poor harvest this time.

We're yet to get PDSrice as well",Tousem village authority secretary said.Most of the Tousem households in an average gets much below 100 tins of paddy from their respective fields in their last harvest due to bamboo flowering and subsequent rodents attack .

"Besides we're are afraid of outbreak of an epidemic among them(displaced persons) if proper care is not taken up in time" P Haimasuang,a social worker told this reporter over telephone on friday.

Due to congestion in their accommodation and poor sanitation,most of the children have complaint of vomiting and diarrhea besides scabies in the last few days,he added.

Zeme Naga Council President D Apung sharing a similar sentiment informed that they've already apprised the matter to DC Tamenglong Jacintha Lazarus.However Chief Medical Officer, Tamenglong couldn't give a confirm report when contacted.

In the early part of this month,a medical team have rushed to the Tousem sub-divisional headquarters and check the health condition of the displaced persons wherein the team claimed to have detected cases of small pox among the children,another villager who accompanied the team had said.

Meanwhile authorities of Tousem Government High School and Wisdom English School have been requested to readmit the displaced children.

"We've been requesting school authorities here to readmit the displaced children who couldn't attend after their schools at Mohor and Maibang area (Assam) were closed," Haimasuang added.

According to reports reaching here, nearly 1000 villagers who couldn't reach Manipur villagers were presently camping at the relief camps Mohur and Lodiram area in Assam's North Cachar hills district under the supervision of a Deputy Commissioner.

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