from MARCUS MUSHONGA in Harare, Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe Bureau
HARARE, (CAJ News) – AT least 65 people, majority of them children, have died from the resurgent cholera, diarrhoea and malaria outbreaks in Zimbabwe since late 2024.
The death toll is likely higher considering the statistics released by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) are for the period ending February this year.
UNICEF reports these health risks, initially heightened by the El Niño-induced drought, have been further exacerbated by the La Niña weather patterns, the latter causing floods.
As of the period referred to above, Zimbabwe cumulatively recorded 450 cholera cases and nine deaths, with a case fatality rate, since the resurgence in cholera from November 2024.
Cumulatively, 61 040 common diarrhoea cases and 25 deaths were reported in February 2025.
As of the end of February, a cumulative 10 470 malaria cases and 31 malaria deaths were reported.
“The WASH situation in the country has remained largely unchanged since 2024, with underlying factors contributing to cholera outbreaks still prevalent,” said a spokesperson.
WASH is an acronym for water, sanitation and hygiene.
UNICEF is battling funding challenges to halt the spread of these diseases in the impoverished Southern African country.
It launched a Humanitarian Action for Children (HAC) appeal requiring US$36,5 million to meet the humanitarian needs of children and their families in 38 high priority districts of Zimbabwe in 2025.
Since January, UNICEF Zimbabwe has only received a total of $2,2 million from the UNICEF Global Humanitarian Thematic Funds and the Japan Supplementary Budget.
In a related setback, the Education Cluster reports that a total of 92 schools have been damaged since the start of this rainy season.
– CAJ News