There are heightened fears of a possible epidemic in the Gonja district of the Northern region as flood waters from the White and Black Volta cause havoc there. The only public place of convenience in the locality have totally been submerged by the floods including all boreholes in the area that provided drinking water. This has forced the inhabitants to drink from polluted water bodies. Heavy downpours have displaced about 30,000 persons in the district forcing most of them to seek shelter in mid-shift shelters and classroom. Joy News Northern regional correspondent, Mahama Shaibu, who visited the area, said the situation is serious and the flood waters are not receding, raising concerns that more houses could be submerged. He said there are renewed fears of cholera outbreak in the district because the flood waters wash the human excreta back into the Black Volta which serves as the only source of drinking water for the people. Mahama Shaibu said no relief items have reached the affected communities so far. However, a committee has been set up to see how best to salvage the situation. NADMO Officials in the district say they will need not less than GHc5 million to be able to respond to the disaster. The District Chief Executive of Gonja, Issifu Salisu Be-Awuribe confirmed Joy News' report but stated NADMO has assured him that 50 packets of roofing sheets, 100 bags of rice, 200 maize, plastic cups, washing basins and bales of used cloths have been dispatched to the area. But lamented that even these items would not be enough to salvage the situation. Story by Ernest Dela Aglanu/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana