The UN released a report on Friday saying that apart from the severe food shortages, 6 million people have no access to safe water or sanitation, while 600,000 families will need farm aid for the upcoming planting season.
The countrys humanitarian needs remain staggering. There is the concern that, unless conditions change, outbreaks of waterborne diseases at the onset of the next rainy season could lead to new cholera cases and higher humanitarian needs, the UN said in the report.
4000 people have died of cholera since August last year and another 100,000 caught the disease. Last year the UN appealed for $550 million to assist the country, but this has been revised upwards as the crisis has worsened. So far $246 million has been given, about a third of what is needed.
Augustino Zacarias, the UN resident humanitarian coordinator in Harare, has urged donors to help the country as the new unity government struggles to meet the nations needs.
– SW Radio Africa