Tonight:
9°c
UK faces surge in refugees fleeing Zimbabwe cholera
Jack Lefley12.12.08
A BRITISH Red Cross appeal to tackle cholera and chronic food shortages in Zimbabwe was under way today amid fears the crisis could prompt people from the country to head for the UK.
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has reportedly warned the Cabinet of a possible mass influx of Zimbabweans as a result of the cholera outbreak.
She said that some people were obtaining fake passports from neighbouring countries where, unlike Zimbabwe, citizens do not need UK entry visas. The disease has killed 800 and affected 16,000 in the southern African country, according to the United Nations.
In Angola, 10,000 people have been affected, with 229 deaths, and Mozambique has more than 8,000 registered cases and 93 deaths.
Money from the Red Cross appeal will be used to supply community based health, water, sanitation and hygiene projects, delivering aid and education to those most in need across the region.
In the past two weeks, Red Cross volunteers have reached more than 11,000 people with health and hygiene information. Donations have also been used to provide cholera kits and water purification equipment.
Matt Cochrane, a delegate from the International Federation of the Red Cross, returned from Messina, on South Africa's border with Zimbabwe, this week.
He said: "We're right on the cusp of the rainy season. That is typically when we see the first cases of cholera. Now we have an already serious situation and rain coming on top of that.
"There's no room for complacency. We have to hope for the best but we have to continue to plan for the worst. Our primary focus, based on years of experience, is prevention. The cruel thing about cholera is it's so easy to prevent and treat. Prevention is based on basic hygiene such as washing your hands after using the lavatory.
"It's an awful illness. You can lose 10per cent of the water in your body every hour. Within six hours you're chronically dehydrated and within a day you can die."
To give to the British Red Cross visit www.redcross.org.uk/zimbabweregion or call 0845 054 7200.
Reader views (14)
Liberal Thinker - I disagree. Why are they racist remarks when they are stating facts. I think that only now would the general public in Harare say they would prefer Britain.
We should remember Britain is an island, and we do not have the space for all these people.
I also believe that where we have become so cosmopolitan we have lost our identity, and also I believe this could also be part of the problem with grammar, vocabulary and spelling. You only have to read e-mails sent in to This is London to see the atrocious spelling mistakes. A common one being there instead of their, and apostrophe's being left out of words
- E Sullivan, London
Zimbabweans are flooding into South Africa. There are about 3 million here already. They are partly responsible for the appalling violent crime rate in this country. But still the South African government does nothing and claims that the farce of a unity agreement signed by Mugabe and Tsvangirai is actually capable of working.
- James, Johannesburg, South Africa
I thought the government was 'clamping down on illegal immigration'. Or were these more words? Let's remember that Zimbabwe is a mess of its own making. It wanted white rulers out and Mugabe in. So it got Mugabe, then it got inflation, then starvation and now cholera. So why should we help? Get rid of Mugabe and Zimbabwe's problems will rapidly resolve.
- Joannie, London, England
How can these epeople from this impoverished third world flea pit fund the trip to the UK when I can't even run to a day trip to Calais?
- Kedge, marlboro wilts
let them in !!!
This country can't get any financially worse.
If you can beat the povertry stircken countries, then i guess just join them !!!
- Georgr, london
I they seek refuge they should go to the nearest safe country.
- Barbus, Liverpool
With the comment posted her yes we are White racists.
It is the leadership that bad mouth Britain not the people of the country.
If you ask the average person on the streets on Harare they will moist definitely say they would want there country ruled by anyone other than Mugabe.
Please do not mistake Mugabe's voice as the voice of real Zimbabweans.
- Liberal Thinker, UK
Why exclude people from Zimbabwe, when people from everywhere else are just walking in?
- Phil Jones, London UK
Its sad that these people appear to be completely unaware that South Africa lies immediately to the south of Zimbabwe. Surely they will be much happier there than in a cloudy island on the far side of Europe.
- Fred, Horsham
Where are we going to treat them all, in St Georges, Tooting ?
There is plenty of Wood out there they surely must all know that they should boil water before drinking it, its a terrible tragedy but a preventable one.
- Shelly, London
But we're white racists - they would not feel at home here after their tribalism at home. Remember Ruanda was just about tribes hating each other. Africa must solve its own problems.
- Frederick, London UK
Funny how all our ex colonial friends say how much they hate our guts, and yet they always come to the UK when their corrupt leaders have cocked up their own country.
- Sue, Orpington, Kent
I told you so.
- Jimbob, Kensington
Funny how the people in these ex colonies always slag the UK off, but as soon as they need anything at all, they come running back.
Most African countries are not fir to rule themselves, never have been, and never will.
- P I Staker, London
