Zimbabwe declared a state of emergency today after finally admitting that the cholera outbreak which has claimed hundreds of lives in the impoverished country is out of control.

Zimbabwe's health minister David Parirenyatwa has asked World Health Organisation aid agencies for medicine, equipment and funds to pay medical staff.

Zimbabwe's state-controlled media quoted him as telling the agencies: "Our central hospitals are literally not functioning. Our staff is demotivated and we need your support to ensure that they start coming to work and our health system is revived."

Zimbabwe's deputy minister for water and infrastructural development Walter Mzembi was also reported as saying that his ministry only had water treatment chemicals to last about 12 weeks. "I am appealing for at least 40 million rand ($3.89million) to purchase chemicals for the next two months and the money is needed between now and next Monday." The government has also appealed for $450 million in aid to deal with food shortages.

The United Nations has estimated that the death toll stands officially at 565, although some reports have estimated that the number now runs into thousands. A total of 12,500 cases have been recorded. The Zimbabwean government has previously claimed the outbreak was under control and blamed it on Western sanctions against President Robert Mugabe.

Mr Parirenyatwa admitted his government needed water as well as sanitation equipment, the World Health Organisation office in Harare said. A spokesman added: "It was the first time where the minister has called all the parties together to detail all the needs of the government."

Yesterday the WHO flew enough anti-cholera supplies and medicines to Harare, which is the worst hit area, to treat up to 2,000 moderate cases.

Most of the capital has been without water since Sunday. Supply to the city has been erratic for two years amid the general collapse of the country's health and sanitation systems.

Many people rely upon boreholes and primitive hand pumps. Raw sewage runs down some streets in Harare.

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