Immunization goes on despite Afghan hostilities

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Immunization goes on despite Afghan hostilities

Wednesday, 9 April 1997: A mass polio immunization campaign currently taking place in Afghanistan will continue until tomorrow although fighting has resumed in the north west.

UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO) had secured the agreement of the Taliban and General Dostam to cease hostilities during the vaccination campaign, but fighting has reportedly broken out between the two factions at the front line in Badghis province.

"This is a clear violation of the agreement reached with the major factions," said Jim Mohan, UNICEF representative in Afghanistan. "The break in the ceasefire is most regrettable. However, in no way should this discourage us from continuing to support the enormous effort being made by thousands of Afghans working diligently to make sure that this campaign is a success." Dr. Gebreel, the WHO representative, added that his agency also "condemns the breach of the ceasefire."

The United Nations has raised $1.8 million to enable more than 13,000 vaccinators, health workers and volunteers to carry out the campaign throughout the country.

"It is the right of all children to be immunized," said Mr. Mohan. "The perpetrators of the current conflict should not be allowed to prevent innocent children from travelling to health centres to be vaccinated against polio. We will continue to work towards the goal of eradicating polio by the end of the decade, and I sincerely hope that we can persuade all sectors of Afghan society to support this aim, to lay down their arms and join the battle against this dreaded disease."

UNICEF and WHO will be making strong representations to faction leaders. "I am appalled at this violation of the ceasefire agreement," said Alfredo Witschi-Cestari, resident representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Afghanistan. "I therefore urge both sides in the conflict to exercise restraint for the rest of the immunization period."

Efforts will continue unabated in those areas that remain accessible to vaccination teams hoping to reach some 3.8 million children under the age of five with oral polio vaccination. Early indications from vaccination centres around the country indicate that the turnout for the campaign has been very good.