Yemen – Cholera Update, Human Rights (DG ECHO, WHO, Media) (ECHO Daily Flash of 5 October 2017)

Since 2 April, 791 551 suspected cholera cases and 2 142 associated deaths have been reported across the country (as of 4 October). 119 020 suspected cholera cases were reported in the last 4 weeks, representing an average of 4 250 notifications per day. In addition to being the fastest-growing cholera outbreak, it is now also the largest-ever (the Haiti 2010 cholera outbreak recorded 754 373 cases). The ICRC fears that suspected cholera cases could reach 1 million by the end of 2017. WHO emergencies chief, Dr. Peter Salama, declared more should have been done in scaling up more rapidly the case-management work and sending more vaccines.

On 29 September, the UN Human Rights Council endorsed the creation of a 'Group of Eminent International and Regional Experts' to conduct a comprehensive examination of abuses by all parties to the conflict since September 2014. The experts will report to the high commissioner within a year and discuss their findings with the Human Rights Council in September next year. Human Rights groups welcomed the decision, considering it as a significant step towards enhancing accountability and ending war crimes.