cholera

Oxfam’s Water and Sanitation advisor Raphael Mutiku said:

In response to the cholera outbreak in central Haiti, Oxfam has mobilized a team of five emergency specialists to set up water, sanitation and hygiene programs for an estimated 100,000 people in a heavily affected zone.

November rains that were expected to ease the hunger crisis in East Africa have failed yet again in some of the worst hit areas. Millions of people face at least another six months of hunger and destitution.

The international aid agency, Oxfam, has cautiously welcomed steps in Zimbabwe to form a government of national unity. Now the new government must urgently address the combined humanitarian crisis of cholera epidemic and more than half the population being in need of food aid.

Zimbabwean children and their families are being forced to choose between an education and immediate survival, with cholera adding yet another obstacle to today's scheduled return to school. The disruption could blight the future of millions of children.

Zimbabwe has entered its peak hunger period with more than half the population now dependent on food aid. The situation could rapidly worsen as vulnerable households are set to receive smaller food rations this month because of funding shortfalls.