Zimbabwe cholera epidemic
Hyper-inflation, the impact of HIV and AIDS, and the decline in recent years of commercial farm production, have all led to a widespread lack of food and other essential items across Zimbabwe.
Cholera,
a water-borne disease, has surged due to the breakdown of city sewerage
systems, poor maintenance of water supply systems including hand pumps,
severe drinking water shortages, and the lack of basic hygiene items
such as soap.
The situation
Zimbabwe's inflation rate
is officially 100,000 percent - the highest in the world - and 80 per
cent of the population live on less than $1 a day, without access to
basic commodities such as food and water.
As a result Zimbabwe
is facing a humanitarian crisis of massive proportions with 5.1 million
people, almost half the population, struggling to eat one meal a day.
What Oxfam is doing
Oxfam`s
humanitarian response in Zimbabwe focuses on food security and the
provision of water and sanitation for the poorest Zimbabweans.
In
October (2008) Oxfam started a six-month food assistance program which
will continue until March 2009, delivering 12,000 metric tons of food
aid; including maize meal, vegetable oil and pulses. The distributions
are being carried out in collaboration with the World Food Program
(WFP) and will reach 150,000 vulnerable people in the districts of
Kwekwe, Shurugwi and Chirunmanzu in Midlands province.
Oxfam
is carrying out an ambitious public health project in six urban areas
in Zimbabwe, which is being funded by USAID and OFDA and will respond
to the public health needs of nearly half a million people. The project
involves distributing non-food items, hygiene education, contingency
stocking and water and sanitation provision.
In addition to our
humanitarian work, Oxfam continues to work with partners to maintain
our long term development programs, which aim to assist Zimbabweans to
improve their livelihoods, support those living with HIV and AIDS,
prevent the spread of disease, and combat gender violence.
What Oxfam Canada is doing
Oxfam Canada and its
partners are currently fixing and maintaining 70 water pumping stations in 3 districts
which will ensure clean water is more readily available. Over the next two
years, work will be focused on making sure that 170 water pumping stations are
in good working order and the creating of 10 rain-water collection and
purification projects that will reach 50,000 people.
Update: 13 January 2009
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