The Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), has called on Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) to commence immediate supply of medical and relief materials to the Batan Community in Warri South-West local government area of Delta State, to avoid further gust of deaths that have been recorded due to the company's negligence in cleaning up an oil spill that has persisted for months.

ERA/FoEN's position is coming on the heels of reports that eight infants under the age of three have died since the incident, with several more already ill from either consuming poisoned water or inhaling fouled air.

Batan community in Diebiri Kingdom, Warri South-West local government area of Delta State is host to SPDC's Batan Flow Station and a gas plant, which the oil company has been operating since the 1960's.

The rupture of the pipeline was said to have been allegedly carried out by so-called militants a few months ago and was not well repaired by a Shell team of contractors that came to effect repairs. The shoddy job by the contractors left the contents of the pipeline spewing into community rivers. Subsequently, at a meeting with the community leaders, the Delta State government was said to have blamed the community for the incident at a meeting.

Reports so far gathered by ERA listed the dead as: Aboke Paul- a one-year old, Peter Oyele (male) 6-month old, Kingdom Birisibe who is 8 months old and one- year old Aboy Ibelamene.

Others are Godsay Peter (male) 10months, Godwin Ogugu (male) 7months, Ebis Egbe (female) 2 years and Mary John (female) 3 months.

The sick include: Pett Alari (female), Tekene Bene (female), Musa Tenten (male), Oboye Omu (male), Larison Geboye (male), as well as Vera Tenten (female) and Evans George (male).

In a statement issued in Lagos and made available to Saturday Champion, ERA warned that unless immediate steps are taken to get medical supplies to the affacted people and provide them with potable drinking water, "a gale of deaths" will sweep through the community.

"It is extremely callous and irresponsible that in this season of goodwill, Shell has decided to will pollution, devastation and untold hardship on this peace-loving community by accusing them of vandalism, even when the whole world knows it was Shell's negligence that resulted in the pollution of rivers and farmlands in the community," said ERA Executive Director, Nnimmo Bassey.

"Rather than blame the community people, the Delta State government should compel Shell to take responsibility for not doing a proper check on its facilities. The Delta state government cannot say it is unaware of Shell's hide and seek games whenever it pollutes the environment or dislocates livelihoods due to its internationally acclaimed reckless exploitation of fossil fuels".

"ERA's position is clear. Shell cannot continue with its media whitewash on the issue. It must own up to callousness in the maintenance of its facility in Batan and virtually all parts of the Niger Delta. It must immediately clean up the community and compensate the community people for polluting their streams, farms and disrupting their livelihood. Every minute counts. Shell must take responsibility for this disaster", Nnimmo said.