Cholera threatens southern Africa as food crisis continues
7 November 2002

Cholera is emerging as the latest health threat to 14.4 million people who are already facing severe hunger because of the food crisis across southern Africa, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies warned today.

In the last month alone, 500 cases of cholera have been reported in Zimbabwe's Masvingo province with 24 deaths. Other cases have been reported in neighbouring countries affected by a drought which means that more and more people are being forced to drink polluted ground water.

"Our immediate response this week is to send in cholera treatment kits for up to 5,000 people. We have more medicines on stand-by if need be. However, we also need to step up our water and sanitation activities to ensure that a very vulnerable population has improved access to clean drinking water," says Dr. Hakan Sandbladh, emergency health adviser at the International Federation Secretariat in Geneva.

The Zimbabwe Red Cross has been assessing and responding to needs in Masvingo. In recent weeks cholera has swept through two districts, Zaka and Bikita, which also have HIV/AIDS infection rates running at some 42 per cent of the adult population. The Red Cross maintains there is a link between the cholera outbreak and food shortages.

"Usually cholera comes along when the rains have started. This year it has come rather earlier than that, and that is because of the food security situation. People are weak, they have limited access to food and they are using poor water sources. The Red Cross is concerned that the situation is going to get worse rather than better as the season progresses," explains Ben Mountfield, the country manager of the Red Cross food operation in Zimbabwe.

For further information, or to set up interviews, please contact:

Denis McClean, Head, Media Service - Tel: + 41 22 730 44 28 / + 41 79 217 33 57
Media duty phone - Tel: + 41 79 416 38 81

The Geneva-based International Federation promotes the humanitarian activities of 181 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies among vulnerable people. By coordinating international disaster relief and encouraging development support, it seeks to prevent and alleviate human suffering. The Federation, National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross together, constitute the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.