Afghanistan - UN slams killing of polio vaccinators, suspends drive

KABUL (Pajhwok):The United Nations has denounced the killing of eight polio vaccination workers at four locations in northern Afghanistan.

While condemning the killings, the word body reminded the perpetrators that such incidents were a clear violation of international humanitarian laws.

In a statement on Friday, the United Nations said its polio vaccination campaign had been suspended in Kunduz and Takhar provinces, where the attacks occurred.

The statement stressed:“This senseless violence must stop immediately, and those responsible must be investigated and brought to justice.”

It added UN health workers were appalled by the brutality of the attacks, the first since the resumption of nationwide immunisation campaigns in November.

Last year, nine polio workers were killed during national polio vaccination campaigns in the country.

On Thursday, one member of the vaccination team was killed in Taloqan while four members of house-to-house teams were murdered in two separate incidents in Kunduz City.

Two vaccinators and a social mobiliser were killed in the Imam Sahib district of Kunduz province.

A day earlier, the Ministry of Public Health also condemned the attacks and called for the perpetrators to be arrested and punished.

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