United Nations Radio

The United Nations children's agency, UNICEF today announced an emergency response to help children in Zimbabwe.

The announcement was made in Geneva as the latest figures by the World Health Organization indicate that there are now over 11,000 cases of cholera in the country.

According to the UN health agency, close to 500 people have died of cholera, putting the death rate from the disease at 4 per cent.

For the epidemic to be considered under control, the death rate has to be less than one per cent.

UNICEF spokesperson Miranda Eeles says the launch of the rigorous 100-day emergency response will intensify relief efforts for Zimbabwe's children.

"This isn't just in response to the cholera outbreak that 42 out of 62 provinces are suffering from. It's also in response to a total collapse of its education and health systems. This response will basically focus on increasing health outreach services, providing nutritional supplements, boosting school attendance and scaling up access to safe water in the short term."

United Nations relief agencies say the areas most affected by the cholera epidemic in Zimbabwe are Harare and other urban areas.

Diane Bailey, United Nations.
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