Thousands of migrants who fled a crackdown in Malaysia are living in camps along the border where disease is rife, local aid officials have said.
Most are on Indonesia's Nunukan island, waiting and hoping for permission to return to Malaysia.
Local Red Cross official Mesdiono said some 4,000 workers had been treated on Nunukan for diseases ranging from diarrhoea and skin problems to malaria.
About half a million workers have left Malaysia but at least 200,000 remain.
The head of the Indonesian Red Cross, Marie Muhammad, described the situation along the Indonesian-Malaysian border as "terrible, with migrants packed together like sardines".
Mesdiono said about 7,650 workers were living in 32 camps on Nunukan.
ILLEGAL WORKFORCEMany of those in the camps are reported to lack enough money to get all the way home, and are hoping to return to Malaysia.
Thousands of other migrants have made the decision not to leave Malaysia at all, arguing that they have no jobs to return to, or are owed wages by their Malaysian employers.
Malaysia launched its crackdown against its vast pool of illegal labour on Monday, amid fears of rising crime.
But despite a major operation by police officers, immigration officials and more than 300,000 volunteer reservists, only 580 illegal workers had been arrested as of Wednesday.
Immigration officials believe thousands may have gone into hiding.
Those arrested could face heavy fines, jail sentences and caning.
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