As if extremely severe hunger isn’t enough to contend with there is now a serious outbreak of cholera. Evidently over 1/2 of the large lake that provides water for Harare (population 3 million+) is seriously contaminated both with human waste and toxic chemicals. Some water systems are also broken down (many of them) and yesterday when I took a volunteer to the airport there was no water in any of the lavatories at all, nor in the restaurant or anywhere- and that an international airport!!
We keep thinking things can’t get worse and then are surprised when they do! A request for 3, 1liters of IV fluids today, at US$127. per packet. Yesterday a bottle of Dettol (an antiseptic) priced at almost US$300. per bottle, and it was only slightly more than 1 cup!
More than 20 a week, seriously malnourished babies are arriving at the orphanage every week now, and the expected help from Plan International and others has not arrived yet– we keep praying, and compromising our own programs a bit to keep children alive.
I forgot to mention that when I listed what we are doing I failed to mention the feeding programs. We do feed our 80 workers and 186 ones who brought leaves this last pay period Mahewu every day, and provide some kind of food for those who have nothing at home. Adding an average of 5 in each home (which is a bit low) this is over 1200 that we are trying to keep fed as well as the others in the surrounding villages!
There is 2,000kg of mealie meal on its way, which sounds like a lot, but it won’t even be 1kg per person by the time we add those starving in the villages!
I’m trying to keep a positive attitude and praying a lot and hoping for miracles!
More later.
Love,
Paula
To donate, go to www.active.com/donate/zimbabweappeal for the Agathos Foundation Emergency Fund Drive for medical supplies, food and farming supplies for Paula’s ministry.
