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Photo: IFRC

Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – Zimbabwe will mark its 100,000th case of cholera this week or next, says the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, IFRC. Almost 4,300 people have died of the disease since its outbreak in August 2008.

The country’s economic collapse has resulted in hyper-inflation and food shortages. IFRC says that widespread hunger and a severe degradation of the the health, water, and sanitation systems have combined to facilitate the spread of the disease.

Limited funding has slowed Red Cross efforts to reduce the impact and spread of the disease. It is appealing for CHF3.75 million to drill wells, construct latrines and rehabilitate water sources for 665,000 affected households.

IFRC is the world’s biggest humanitarian organization and coordinates the relief efforts of the national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies. ICRC, the International Red Cross, also based in Geneva, intervenes on behalf of victims of armed conflict.