So far, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) around 10,000
people are infected and 412 have died from the disease. The number of
cholera victims however remains imprecise as many families can no
longer register their deceased relatives, according to reports from
several newspapers in neighbouring South Africa.
The government of Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe has been
attempting to cover up the extent of the cholera epidemic, the reports
continued.
Aid organizations such as Medecins sans Frontieres, Germany’s
Welthungerhilfe and the WHO have been the only parties – in light of
the complete collapse of public services in Zimbabwe – to provide the
aid to the cholera victims.
With hospitals closed in Zimbabwe and supplies of clean drinking water
insufficient, the cholera epidemic has already crossed over into
neighbouring countries such as South Africa, where six cholera deaths
have been reported.
The news reports warn of a humanitarian crisis in southern Africa with
the start of summer rains next year amid the ongoing deterioration of
Zimbabwe’s health system.