Zimbabwe crisis
Esnath Tongoona, 18, with her six month old baby, waiting for the food distribution Photo: Caroline Gluck/OxfamGB
As the wet season begins, the threat of another cholera outbreak is looming. Oxfam is responding to this with a water and sanitation program throughout the country. Last year, because the harvest was so poor, Oxfam extended our food program in Binga, northern Zimbabwe, and is now helping over 500 households.
Oxfam is there
Two of my children have already died. How am I supposed to manage? People have been eating nuts, but that is now almost gone.
– Nkosana Mudhindi, a Zimbabwean father.
Oxfam is working with local communities to continue educating people on good hygiene and sanitation as we enter the new rainy season. We are also working with local government to provide emergency rehabilitation of water and sanitation infrastructure to prevent and respond to any further cholera outbreaks.
Desperation has led some people in this area to eat animals dying from anthrax. As a result, some have died, and others have been hospitalised.
– Paul Davenport, Oxfam Australia’s Zimbabwe Coordinator
Towards the end of last year, we made a commitment to:
- Expand our reach to around 250,000 hungry people and to distribute vital drought-resistant seed to 16,000 households
- Provide soap, hygiene education, disinfectant and life-saving clean water
- Provide extra support for existing partners to cope with chronic food shortages
A young boy on a drip at Budiriro Cholera Clinic. Photo: Robin Hammond/OxfamGB
Take action
With millions of Zimbabweans nearing starvation, time is running out. We need your support to save lives today.
Your gift of:
$59 provides 10 sacks of vital drought-resistant seeds to protect communities from further famine.
$250 buys eight life-saving hygiene kits to prevent the spread of cholera
$104 provides a Food Survival pack to feed a family of six for four months (incl. beans, corn, cereal and cooking oil).