Johannesburg/Harare - The International Federation of the Red Cross announced Wednesday that it has deployed seven so-called emergency response units
(ERUs) in the past week throughout Zimbabwe in response to the ongoing cholera crisis there.

The seven units include three basic health care units, two mass sanitation units, and two water supply units from Red Cross societies around the world.

According to the IFRC, the ERUs - specialized teams trained and equipped for emergency humanitarian scenarios - are fully self- sufficient for one month, and can be deployed for up to four months.

The IFRC in a statement said the deployment was part of an emergency appeal, launched on December 23 for 10.2 million Swiss francs (9.2 million US dollars) to fund the response of the Zimbabwe Red Cross to the cholera crisis.

According to the latest UN figures, more than 1,600 people have died of cholera with over 30,000 reported cases of the disease in Zimbabwe.

"Cholera is a preventable and treatable disease: no one should die from it," said Tammam Aloudat, the IFRC's Emergency Health Senior Officer.

"Currently, the proportion of people who get cholera and die as a result is higher than five per cent. To say that cholera is under control, this number should not exceed one per cent," Aloudat added.

Meanwhile, in light of the continuing poor economic conditions in the country Zimbabwe officials advised its citizens to form groups to guy basic food staples in neighbouring South Africa, the Sapa news agency reported.

Citing Zimbabwe's official media, the report said the advisory was meant to counter local high prices for the limited goods to be found within Zimbabwe. (dpa)