Letters from Zimbabwe - December 2008
The cholera outbreak in Zimbabwe has really hit the country while it's down. HIV/AIDS continues to ravage the population, inflation has reached unheard of levels -- costs are doubling every day -- and extreme food shortages are forcing people to the brink of starvation. Humanitarian interventions are keeping much of the population alive but still, over four million are in need of food aid. WJR's inputs into Bulawayo are small but extremely targeted and we remain in constant contact with our partners to ensure they are able to deliver and support their clients.
The WHO has said that up to 60,000 people in Zimbabwe could be infected with cholera (worst case scenario). By 15 December, almost 16,700 have been infected and almost 800 have died. This is the worst outbreak ever recorded in Zimbabwe. The infection is entirely treatable in normal circumstances but the almost complete collapse of the health system adds to the danger it poses the population. Thousands are crossing into South Africa every day, many taking cholera with them.
Bulawayo, Zimbabwe's second city, is suffering not only from extreme food shortages and mega inflation but also from a breakdown in the sewerage and water systems. Raw sewage runs through the streets of many of the townships and water supplies, when they do work, are polluted, adding to the desperation in the city. Below are letters we have received from partners alerting us to both the positive and negative in their lives:
Dear Cassie Thanks a lot for your concern about the cholera situation here. It is as if you were at the home today when we were talking about reminding the residents about the disease all the time. Thank God for now the home has not been affected by the disease yet, and praying that it won't affect the residents. What is of worry is the erratic water supply to the home due to water pipes that burst now and again. Residents are being reminded of the disease on a daily basis and discouraged from moving all over the place, especially where there are burst sewer pipes. A request for cholera tablets and other materials that are necessary in case of a cholera outbreak, has been made to a local donor, hoping that they will be able to help. This is to prepare for a disaster.
Dear Cassie, Though the situation is out of control with people starving and the economy in a state of collapse, we are starting two new branches this week in the western suburbs. As in the other branches, women came to meet me to ask me to start branches in their suburbs. We have arranged three days of training this year through Masiya to start with. I have you to thank for that connection which was forged when we went to Masiya camp in the Matopos!
Dear Cassie, We have had to cut costs including reducing the running time of our generator during the day time power cuts -- because we must preserve the diesel needed for the night time power cuts for obvious reasons. The cost of diesel is still very expensive for us in this part of the world and we do try to keep reserves as much as possible. The borehole still functions but we need electricity to pump the water! We are nervous about the quality of the borehole water for consumption and are in the process of having it tested.
Life for our Jewish clients in Zimbabwe has recently got far harder. Life there was already hard for all but the absolute richest. Our older clients had all but lost their savings, most rarely see their families and the home was being supported by us and other external agencies. Fees for the home were low, perhaps lower than they should be but the world economic crisis has caused a big problem for this home and it can no longer afford to feed its residents well.
