Cholera

The spread of cholera has resulted in more than 4,000 deaths and has affected over 93,000 people. The health services, already under stress, find it hard to cope. This outbreak is symptomatic of widespread infrastructure failures brought on by years of neglect. While the cholera response is not yet under control, there are indications that the large humanitarian response has helped to alleviate the problems in Harare, Bulawayo and Chitungwiza. Meanwhile, the epidemic has spread into neighbouring South Africa.

What is the UK doing?

Our first priority is to prevent more deaths, through the distribution of cholera response kits and provision of clean drinking water.

We announced on 26 November that the Department for International Development (DfID) is making available a £10m package of support to provide life saving assistance and respond to the escalation of cholera.

DfID works with the World Health Organisation and UNICEF to ensure a co-ordinated response. UN agencies, the Ministry of Health and other partners are now working together under the Cholera Command and Control Centre (C4), which has received DfID funding.

DfID is also providing support to a mosquito spraying programme to ensure that the malaria season does not lead to as many as 2.7m cases of the disease.

Food

Nutrition data from December 2008 show that acute malnutrition remains static, and below emergency levels. However, many Zimbabweans are cutting down on meals, often to feed their children first. The failure of the government of Zimbabwe to provide its full allocation of food has made it more difficult to plan for meeting future needs. In 2008, high rates of acute malnutrition in urban areas were attributable to poor water and sanitation and diarrhoeal diseases.

Massive international response to the food shortages in Zimbabwe has helped to ensure that acute malnutrition remains below emergency levels, and the response is projected to reach over 6 million people in February 2009.

What is the UK doing?

The UK is supporting the World Food Programme (WFP) appeal which is providing food aid to most of those who need it. We are monitoring the the food situation closely with partners as more information comes in.

We have provided support to almost 1 million people in the short term with much needed small-scale agricultural support to help them meet their most basic food needs.

DfID made a £9m contribution (currently the second largest) to WFP in the second half of 2008.