The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is helping the Zimbabwean authorities respond to the cholera outbreak, which has caused hundreds of deaths, the agency said on Friday.

Health facilities in capital Harare and other parts of the country continue to face a mass influx of patients suffering from diarrhea, some of whom are diagnosed as new cholera cases, the agency said in a statement.

So far more than 380 people have been killed by the disease and more than 9,500 cases have been recorded.

"The situation seems to be getting worse by the day. This week has seen more cholera cases in this and other clinics than last week," a health worker in Harare was quoted by the ICRC as saying.

Medical professionals blame the resurgence in cholera on the lack of safe water in many parts of the country. People in some areas have to fetch water from shallow wells and other contaminated sources.

In response to the outbreak, the ICRC is helping the Zimbabwean health authorities to treat cholera patients in the suburbs of the capital.

Since the outbreak of the epidemic in early November, the ICRC has distributed 1,000 liters of intravenous hydration fluids and 20,000 doses of oral re-hydration salts for clinics there.

Other items such as waste disposal bags, cleaning materials and protective gloves have also been distributed.

The ICRC is also helping the clinics to get a sufficient supply of clear drinking water.

(Xinhua News Agency November 30, 2008)