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| Zimbabwe cholera 'an emergency' | Zimbabwe cholera 'an emergency' |
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| Authorities in Zimbabwe have declared a cholera outbreak that has killed more than 550 people to be a national emergency, state media reports. | Authorities in Zimbabwe have declared a cholera outbreak that has killed more than 550 people to be a national emergency, state media reports. |
| Health Minister David Parirenyatwa said hospitals were in urgent need of medicine, food and equipment and were suffering a critical staff shortage. | Health Minister David Parirenyatwa said hospitals were in urgent need of medicine, food and equipment and were suffering a critical staff shortage. |
| Zimbabwe is appealing for international help urgently to tackle the outbreak, which they had said was under control. | Zimbabwe is appealing for international help urgently to tackle the outbreak, which they had said was under control. |
| Meanwhile 16 soldiers have been held over disorder in Harare, say reports. | Meanwhile 16 soldiers have been held over disorder in Harare, say reports. |
| The Zimbabwean police told the state-owned Herald newspaper that 10 of the soldiers were detained over a looting spree on Monday which broke out after the central bank said it did not have the money to pay defence force members queuing for wages. | The Zimbabwean police told the state-owned Herald newspaper that 10 of the soldiers were detained over a looting spree on Monday which broke out after the central bank said it did not have the money to pay defence force members queuing for wages. |
| The other six were part of a group that reportedly looted shops and battled riot police last week. | The other six were part of a group that reportedly looted shops and battled riot police last week. |
| Zimbabwe's defence minister has blamed the disturbances on an unruly minority in the army, and promised to punish the culprits. | Zimbabwe's defence minister has blamed the disturbances on an unruly minority in the army, and promised to punish the culprits. |
| See detailed map of affected areas | See detailed map of affected areas |
| Zimbabwe's deputy health minister told the BBC's World Today programme that patients would die without urgent medical aid. | Zimbabwe's deputy health minister told the BBC's World Today programme that patients would die without urgent medical aid. |
| Our central hospitals are literally not functioning Health Minister David Parirenyatwa Harare diary: 'Too much to take''Water crisis hinders cholera fight' | Our central hospitals are literally not functioning Health Minister David Parirenyatwa Harare diary: 'Too much to take''Water crisis hinders cholera fight' |
| Dr Edwin Muguti said the country's health sector was having "tremendous difficulties". | Dr Edwin Muguti said the country's health sector was having "tremendous difficulties". |
| Health Minister Mr Parirenyatwa, meanwhile, told the Herald: | Health Minister Mr Parirenyatwa, meanwhile, told the Herald: |
| "Our central hospitals are literally not functioning." | "Our central hospitals are literally not functioning." |
| The BBC's Peter Biles reports from neighbouring South Africa that as recently as last week, Zimbabwean officials had said there was no need to view cholera as an emergency. | The BBC's Peter Biles reports from neighbouring South Africa that as recently as last week, Zimbabwean officials had said there was no need to view cholera as an emergency. |
| The UN says at least 565 people have died from the cholera outbreak, which began in August, though correspondents say the real death toll could be much higher. | The UN says at least 565 people have died from the cholera outbreak, which began in August, though correspondents say the real death toll could be much higher. |
| At least 12,545 cases of cholera have been recorded over the same period. | At least 12,545 cases of cholera have been recorded over the same period. |
| The outbreak comes as Zimbabwe is crippled by economic meltdown and political stalemate. | The outbreak comes as Zimbabwe is crippled by economic meltdown and political stalemate. |
| President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF party and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change have been rowing over a power-sharing deal following disputed polls this year. | President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF party and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change have been rowing over a power-sharing deal following disputed polls this year. |
| Zimbabwe's prime minister-designate and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai is expected to meet Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga in Nairobi on Thursday. | Zimbabwe's prime minister-designate and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai is expected to meet Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga in Nairobi on Thursday. |
| Mr Tsvangirai has been on a whirlwind tour of several African countries for talks on the Zimbabwe crisis. | Mr Tsvangirai has been on a whirlwind tour of several African countries for talks on the Zimbabwe crisis. |
| Water shortage | Water shortage |
| On Wednesday, the European Commission said it would provide more than $12m (£8m) for drugs and clean water in Zimbabwe. | On Wednesday, the European Commission said it would provide more than $12m (£8m) for drugs and clean water in Zimbabwe. |
| Most of Zimbabwe's capital has been without water since Sunday. State media said the water was cut because of a lack of purification tablets. | Most of Zimbabwe's capital has been without water since Sunday. State media said the water was cut because of a lack of purification tablets. |
| The health minister said there had been a drop in cholera cases in all provinces except Harare. | The health minister said there had been a drop in cholera cases in all provinces except Harare. |
| Medical workers tried to protest over the cholera outbreak | Medical workers tried to protest over the cholera outbreak |
| The World Health Organisation has said it is keen to help after Mr Parirenyatwa appealed for medical supplies and funds to pay hospital staff. | The World Health Organisation has said it is keen to help after Mr Parirenyatwa appealed for medical supplies and funds to pay hospital staff. |
| On Wednesday, riot police in the Zimbabwean capital, Harare, broke up a protest march by doctors and nurses angered at the worsening outbreak. | On Wednesday, riot police in the Zimbabwean capital, Harare, broke up a protest march by doctors and nurses angered at the worsening outbreak. |
| The authorities also prevented trade union members staging a protest over the country's banking meltdown. | The authorities also prevented trade union members staging a protest over the country's banking meltdown. |
| The government has blamed its crisis on Western sanctions it says are aimed at trying to bring down Mr Mugabe. | The government has blamed its crisis on Western sanctions it says are aimed at trying to bring down Mr Mugabe. |
| But the sanctions imposed after allegations of electoral fraud and political violence are aimed at the president and his close associates and consist of travel bans and a freeze on their foreign assets. | But the sanctions imposed after allegations of electoral fraud and political violence are aimed at the president and his close associates and consist of travel bans and a freeze on their foreign assets. |
| Cases of cholera have been reported either side of Zimbabwe's borders with South Africa, Botswana and Mozambique. | Cases of cholera have been reported either side of Zimbabwe's borders with South Africa, Botswana and Mozambique. |
| Return to top | Return to top |
| Are you in Zimbabwe? Have you been affected by the disease? Are you worried about the spread of cholera into neighbouring countries? Send your comment using the form below: | |