Iraq’s Ministry of Health has reported the first death from a cholera outbreak after it announced at least 17 more cases in 24 hours, taking the total to 76 this year.
“The governorate of Kirkuk recorded its first death from the disease today,” Ministry of Health spokesman Saif Al Badr said, according to state news agency INA.
On Monday, Mr Al Badr said cholera-positive test rates had exceeded 20 per cent.
Characterised by acute diarrhoea caused by an intestinal infection, cholera is waterborne and can spread quickly, especially in poor hygiene conditions. If left untreated, it can result in death.
Earlier this month, the World Health Organisation sent out emergency medical supplies to Iraq’s Kurdish governorate of Sulaymaniyah in response to the increasing number of cholera cases there.
The dispatch included antibiotics, intravenous fluid and infusion sets to cover 5,000 people for three months, the WHO said in a statement.
At the time, the majority of the cases reported were in the governorate, Sulaymaniyah Health Minister Dr Saman Hussain Barzangy said.
“The increase in new cases in Sulaymaniyah and other governorates is a reason for concern for WHO and the Ministry of Health, as it is coming on the backdrop of Covid-19,” said WHO's representative and head of mission in Iraq, Dr Ahmed Zouiten.
Iraq went through its most recent cholera outbreak in 2015 — with around 2,000 cases at one point.
Water mixed with sewage and waste from factories, as well as low water levels in the Euphrates and Tigris due to severe drought — the rivers provide Iraq's main supply of fresh water ― were critical factors in the outbreak.
Iraqi Kurdistan was also the most affected then.
Iraq joins other countries in the Eastern Mediterranean such as Yemen and Afghanistan, which are enduring outbreaks.
Afghanistan’s recent outbreak was exacerbated by a 5.9 magnitude earthquake that claimed more than 1,000 lives, injured more than 1,400 and left thousands homeless.
Yemen, now in its seventh year of war, recorded 1 million cases of cholera in 2017 — becoming home to the world’s worst cholera crisis in recent history.
Water projects were halted, further limiting access to clean water, before a UN-brokered truce came into effect on April 1.
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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
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Bert van Marwijk factfile
Born: May 19 1952
Place of birth: Deventer, Netherlands
Playing position: Midfielder
Teams managed:
1998-2000 Fortuna Sittard
2000-2004 Feyenoord
2004-2006 Borussia Dortmund
2007-2008 Feyenoord
2008-2012 Netherlands
2013-2014 Hamburg
2015-2017 Saudi Arabia
2018 Australia
Major honours (manager):
2001/02 Uefa Cup, Feyenoord
2007/08 KNVB Cup, Feyenoord
World Cup runner-up, Netherlands
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