Red Cross: Cholera To Hit 100K In Zimbabwe

Outbreak Has Already Killed 4,300 Since Last August

(AP)  The cholera outbreak in Zimbabwe, the worst in Africa in more than 15 years, is slowing but is still expected to reach 100,000 cases this week, the Red Cross said Tuesday.

The Red Cross is appealing to donors, who have responded only reluctantly in the past, for more money to help keep the disease under control.

In a report, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said the outbreak of the waterborne disease has killed almost 4,300 people since August 2008.

"We stand now within days of 100,000 cases," said Red Cross spokesman Matthew Cochrane, adding that milestone had appeared unimaginable just a few months ago.

Cochrane said the outbreak 15 years ago killed 12,000 people in camps in what was then Zaire, as refugees fled turmoil following the genocide in Rwanda. What makes Zimbabwe's outbreak stand out, Cochrane said, was that it spread so quickly and was so deadly in a country at peace.

According to figures compiled by the U.N.'s World Health Organization, more than 98,000 cholera cases have been recorded in Zimbabwe since August.

Custodia Mandlhate, head of WHO's Zimbabwe operations, said in an e-mail that the outbreak appeared under control, but added that "our main challenge is now to make sure that preparedness for future epidemics is done."

Cholera is usually easily treated. The scale of Zimbabwe's outbreak is blamed on the collapse of the country's water and health infrastructure following years of violent political impasse.

Donors have been slow to provide funds to rebuild that infrastructure because they do not trust President Robert Mugabe, accused of trampling on democracy and ruining a once-thriving economy. Mugabe joined his longtime rivals in a unity government in February, but has been slow to act on his promises of reform.

The global financial crisis also has slowed aid and development giving.

Late last year, the Red Cross asked the international community for about $9 million for an emergency response in Zimbabwe that included distributing water purification chemicals and ensuring tent hospitals had drugs and trained staff. The Red Cross had to end that operation early when it received only 45 percent of the funds it needed.

Now, the Red Cross is asking for $3.44 million for the next stage, rehabilitating water systems, digging wells and constructing latrines. The agency, conscious of the international community's reluctance to fund development work while Mugabe continues to stall reforms, stressed that donations are necessary to complete humanitarian work.

Taking steps now to prevent a cholera resurgence, Cochrane said, would ensure aid workers are not coming to donors again in a year asking for millions in emergency funding. "Cholera has retreated, but it hasn't been defeated," he said.

... I ask myself what I would do if my country were internally attacked by Muslim terrorists/suicide bombers after 9/11 if I were president? I think the next time the US is internally attacked by Arab terrorists, we should detain all Arab-Americans in a ghetto the size of a city in the Nevada desert. I have no problem doing a little evil for a greater good, so I can survive and thrive as a human being.
Posted by PoliticallyCorrectSucks at 8:39 PM : May 28, 2009

You object to others blaming all US whites for the deeds of a few, but you are eager to blame all Muslims, or Africans, for the deeds of a few.
We detained Japanese Americans in WWII for the deeds of Japan. That was racist and inappropriate. Let's not go back to that.
When we take the high ground, more of the world approves of us. When we take the low ground, more of the world disapproves, and it's easier for the extremists to recruit people to attack us.

I don't mind helping Africa, but first get rid of the lousy government, then I will send money.
Posted by cdegolier at 3:16 PM : May 27, 2009
Zimbabwe, or Somalia?
How do you propose to do that? Should the US send troops?
Should the people continue to suffer until the government decides to go democratic?

[cdegolier]

I don't mind helping Africa, but first get rid of the lousy government, then I will send money.

Why should a billion poor people suffer because a few pirates have attacked some ships?
That makes no sense.

I heard population wise, that Africa has over 1 billion people. In 2000, it was under 700 million. How the hell did they add over 300 million people in ten years. Why feed and give medicine to these people, when our cargo ships are threatened every day by murderous pirates? Let Africa rot in hell!!!
Posted by PoliticallyCorrectSucks at 9:23 PM : May 26, 2009

One of the worst things about the USA is that we have people who are so bigoted that they would condemn an entire continent due to the actions of a few.
Of course, the pirates did not start this bigotry. It's been there for hundreds of years. They are just the newest justification.

[Ichabod09]

Red Cross? Is that the supposed Christian related organization that becomes the Red Crescent in Muslim countries? And you guys got mad a Swaggart, Roberts and the other send me money crowd.

[whitemale08]

The Red Cross needs to help 'END THE FED'.

Getting rid of the Federal Reserve System and the IMF/World Parasites would free Zimbabwe from these British leeches in London.

It's amazing how England is absolutely and totally broke, it's currency, the British pound, is not worth as much as toilet paper and yet they have the nerve to pretend like they are better then Zimbabwe.