Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan of  said
that the United Nations would assist the state in the rehabilitation of persons
displaced by flood.

Uduaghan, at a meeting with political office holders in the
state said Delta State had already been listed by the world body for the
assistance.

He stated that the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other
UN agencies had indicated interest to assist the state, and explained that the
state government applied to the body, cataloguing the problems generated by the
flood.

“We applied formally to the UN for assistance in the
management of the flood problems and they have responded positively and have
listed Delta State as one of the two states in the country for assistance
now,’’ he said.

He also disclosed that Delta State Oil Producing Areas
Development Commission (DESOPADEC) had promised to donate relief materials to
the victims relocated to various camps created by the government.

The governor solicited the cooperation of all government
officials and agencies in the management of the flood problem, especially in
the evacuation and rehabilitation of victims of the disaster.

“This is not time to quarrel, not time to think along ethnic
lines. Let us all come together in this matter,” he said and asked people in
the state, especially those in government to donate clothes to the victims.

“Those of us who can pray should visit the camps and pray
with the people and I appeal to professionals to visit the camps and impart
knowledge or use their skills to provide services to the victims,” he added.

Uduaghan directed that commandants of the camps should
“throw out” any voluntary organisation asking for stipend to be paid to its
members.

The directive was sequel to information by one of the
supervisors of the camps that some of the voluntary groups demanded for
stipends.

He said that the government would not pay any voluntary
organisation providing services at the camps.

In his presentation, the Deputy Governor, Prof. Amos Utuama,
said that the death toll from the flood disaster in the state had risen to
fifteen from the eight earlier recorded.

According to him, seven new deaths have been recorded and
they involved children who died at Ebondoro community in Burutu area when the
boat evacuating them from a disaster point capsized.

He suggested that two “Relief Materials Centres” should be
created at Kpakiama and Ojobo and three new camps at Kiagbodo, Ogbe-Ijoh and
Warri.