Simbabwe

[Schneemann]

U.N. official: Zimbabwe's woes 'pose signficant challenge'

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.

"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."

It also estimates more than 5 million in the nation face starvation.

Link: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/08/19/zimbabwe.humanitarian.day/index.html">http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/08 ... index.html</a><!-- m -->

Schneemann.