Women and children collectclean water from a UNICEF truck in Harare, Zimbabwe Wednesday, Dec. 3,... 
(AP)
Britain has offered 3 million pounds ($4.4 million) and set aside a further 7 million ($10.25 million) in relief aid for Zimbabwe to provide medicine, fund basic health services and help prevent more cholera outbreaks.
The U.S. State Department called the health situation in Zimbabwe worrisome.
"We're obviously very concerned about the health situation in Zimbabwe, as well as the economic and political situation," said spokesman Robert Wood "And so it's incumbent on the Zimbabwean government to cooperate with the international community in trying to deal with some of these issues."
The U.S. Agency for International Development said it would provide an additional $600,000 to help combat the cholera outbreak.
The European Commission is providing more than $12 million for drugs and clean water and the International Red Cross shipped in more supplies Wednesday to fight the cholera outbreak.
The Herald said the government declared the state of emergency at Wednesday's meeting, and appealed for money to pay for food, drugs, hospital equipment and salaries for doctors and nurses.
Walter Mzembi, the deputy water minister, said his ministry has only enough chemicals to treat water nationally for 12 more weeks.
High levels of cholera are common in the region, but Cochrane said it was hitting a population already weakened by hunger and poverty. The death toll could be much higher than the official figures, he added, because many deaths in rural areas were not being recorded at medical facilities.
Increasing numbers of Zimbabweans are also seeking cholera treatment in neighboring South Africa.
Besides shortages of food and other basics, even cash is scarce.
A new 100 million Zimbabwean dollar note went into circulation Thursday in an attempt to ease the cash crunch, and the daily withdrawal limit was increased to ZW$100 million a week — enough to buy just over 10 gallons (40 liters) of clean water.
The new bills and withdrawal limits sparked long lines at banks on Thursday.
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