HARARE , Zimbabwe ( CNN ) -- The `` humanitarian situation remains serious '' in Zimbabwe amid cholera , starvation and a continuing economic crisis , a United Nations official said Wednesday at a World Humanitarian Day ceremony in Harare . The cholera epidemic in Zimbabwe resulted in nearly 100,000 cases , 4,288 of them fatal , the U.N. said . `` Although Zimbabwe is not facing armed conflict , humanitarian threats such as food shortages and outbreak of diseases such as cholera pose a significant challenge , '' said Agostinho Zacarias , U.N. Development Programme representative in the country . `` The recent [ cholera ] epidemic resulted in 98,592 cumulative cases , including 4,288 deaths between August 2008 and July 2009 . '' Cholera thrives in areas without clean water and proper sanitation , and the United Nations has said 6 million people in Zimbabwe -- more than half the population -- have limited or no access to safe water and sanitation in rural and urban areas . It also estimates more than 5 million in the nation face starvation . Although the cholera epidemic was declared under control last month , a renewed outbreak is likely , international health officials have said . Zimbabwe 's humanitarian situation was worsened by its economic collapse last year . The nation 's coalition government , formed six months ago by former political enemies President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai , is seeking more than $ 8 billion to aid its recovery . A U.N. appeal launched earlier this year has so far raised only 44 percent of its goal of $ 718 million for humanitarian assistance . But Rueben Marumahoko , a Zimbabwe junior minister and an appointee of Mugabe , said the country is no longer in crisis . `` There is need for Zimbabwe to move from the humanitarian support stage to the recovery stage , '' he said . `` Zimbabwe is no longer a country in crisis but a country in recovery . '' The comment drew laughter from many journalists covering the event . Among the nation 's problems is a strike by doctors that is almost a month old . The doctors are demanding housing and car allowances and a monthly salary of $ 1,000 [ U.S. ] -- a sharp rise from the current $ 170 a month paid to all public servants . Nurses joined the strike this week , saying that doctors have a genuine case that needs urgent attention . The action is threatening the country 's ability to deal with H1N1 influenza , also known as swine flu , and to prepare for the possible resurgence of the cholera epidemic .
U.N. : The United Nations has said it will not accept any more refugees from the Syrian conflict until a political solution is reached. More than half of the population has limited or no access to safe water , U.N. has said . U.N. appeal for Zimbabwe assistance only 44 percent toward goal . Government 's insistence that nation is `` in recovery '' draws laughter from journalists .