Zimbabwe Cholera Crisis Mounts As Harare Water System Shut Down | Voice of America - English
Zimbabwe appeared Monday to be spiraling into a complex humanitarian emergency with cholera spreading nationwide with the death toll mounting into the hundreds, the public water system in Harare shut off for fear of contaminated water spreading cholera even further, and soldiers rioting in the capital over restrictions on cash withdrawals from banks. "The country is reaching a catastrophic level in terms of food, health deliver, education," said Morgan Tsvangirai, founder of the Movement for Democratic Change and slated to become prime minister in the proposed unity government in the works
The state-controlled Herald newspaper said the Zimbabwe National Water Authority cut off water to Harare because it ran out of a chemical needed to purify drinking water. The rainy season is now upon Zimbabwe and authorities fear that human feces deposited in open spaces along the Mukuvisi River will be carried into the public water supply, potentially contaminating it with the bacteria that causes cholera, infecting thousands more. Medical sources estimate that as many as 10,000 people have contracted the disease and the death toll, set by Harare at 425 on the weekend, is believed to be much higher as it is thought that many deaths have occurred in homes and not been recorded. Elsewhere, the British humanitarian organization Save The Children said two children and one adult in the Zambezi valley had died of anthrax. It said people are so hungry they are eating the meat of dead animals though such meat is probably infected with the disease. Anthrax usually only afflicts animals, but can be transmitted to humans who handle or eat the meat of the infected animals. The group said 60,000 head of livestock were at risk. Harare has asked for international aid while blaming the crisis on Western targeted sanctions. Meanwhile, eyewitnesses told VOA that police and soldiers fought running battles in Harare's city center after the troops ran amok in a repitition of disturbances Friday. The solders were said to be angered over their inability to withdraw more than Z$500,000 from their bank accounts, a sum which is barely enough for bus fare into Harare and home. The attention of many Zimbabweans was turned to the cholera crisis rather than World AIDS Day though observances were held in Bindura, Mashonaland West province.