Fox: 5 million homeless, emotional health concerns for tsunami survivors

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http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,143090,00.html

BANDA ACEH, Indonesia — With many thousands of people still missing, rescuers in the part of Southeast Asia that suffered most from last weekend's earthquake and tsunami stood ready to call off their search for survivors. U.S. forces pressed ahead with one of their biggest relief missions ever with the death toll likely to hit 150,000.

Overall, the death toll surpassed 123,000 and was climbing. U.N. officials said they expected the tally to surpass 150,000, though the final total may never be known. Five million people were homeless.

Health officials said no medical crisis has yet emerged, though getting clean water and sanitation to hard-hit areas was an urgent priority to prevent outbreaks of disease. "We need water. Our children are sick, they need food and medicine," said Riswan Ali, a resident acting as aid coordinator in the village of Bireun, 60 miles east of Banda Aceh. "Please, help us." The 18,000 refugees there had gotten only one aid delivery, he said.

Experts also were concerned about survivors' emotional health. Thousands were grappling with horrific images of the death and destruction. Health professionals said some survivors cannot sleep or eat, or are afraid of the dark, the water or being alone.