Sergei Shoigu holds conference on elimination of flood consequences in southern Russia

Russia's Emergency Situations Minister Sergei Shoigu, now in Stavropol in southern Russia, has held a conference call with heads of nine of the Federation's constituent members. Shoigu heads a government commission to restore flood-hit vital supplies to the region.

It was noted at the ministry's press-service that the minister considers it essential to complete the vaccination of the population in disaster areas within the shortest time possible. As Gennady Onishchenko, Russia's chief sanitary officer, noted at the conference, medical preparations for these purposes had been allocated in sufficient quantities.

The minister also called the attention of some heads to the insufficient heed paid to the investigation and disinfecting of wells. In the Krasnodar Territory, for example, 43,000 people do not have piped water supplies and have to use wells.

Shoigu pointed out that the transport infrastructure in southern Russia had been fully restored -- one can reach any population area. At the same time, road repairs are continuing. Makeshift facilities now accommodate about 15,000 people. There are no more tent camps, through, with everyone living in the buildings of health resorts or holiday hotels.

Still partially flooded are about 8,000 houses in 22 populated localities. But even there the water is subsiding.