The death toll as a result of the devastating cholera outbreak has continued to rise, as fears grow that the situation will get worse as the rainy season peaks.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) last week reported that the official death count was more than 1600, with over 30 000 reported cases of the disease. The unofficial figures meanwhile are believed to be much higher, as there is no way of knowing how many people have died in their homes.

Medical experts had warned as early as October last year that the outbreak of the deadly water borne disease would get much worse with the onset of the rainy season. With the season now expected to peak in the coming weeks, there are growing fears that the worst is yet to come.

According to WHO estimates, the number of reported cases and deaths will double by the end of March if the rainy season peaks late in February. Combined with the total breakdown of health services and the United Nations assessment that up to 5 million people will face starvation this month, the worsening cholera outbreak means more than half the country's remaining population are facing a death sentence.