Yemen – Conflict (Health Cluster, media)
On 23 September at the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva, Slovakia submitted a proposal on behalf of the EU for an independent international inquiry to look into war crimes and civilian deaths in Yemen. Following discussion among Member States, it was replaced by a call to the office of the UN high commissioner for human rights (OHCHR) to dispatch a mission “with assistance from relevant experts, to monitor and report on the situation” in Yemen.
On Sunday 25 September, Salah al-Sammad, head of a new council appointed by the Houthi rebels and their allies to run Yemen, proposed a truce on the country's border with Saudi Arabia in an exchange for a halt in Saudi-led strikes on his forces.
Coalition air strikes reportedly killed nine people in Houthi-controlled Ibb city in central Yemen late on Saturday 24 September. Nine civilians were killed, and another nine were wounded, treated and discharged from the hospital according to the hospital staff. Over the week end, coalition war-planes heavily bombarded several military areas near the airport in Sana’a.
As per the initial findings of the ongoing health assessment (HeRAMS), 54% of the health facilities in the country are not functioning. Due to the current financial crisis, more facilities are expected to close with the immediate consequence of further limiting access to health services and increasing mortality among population.