UN condemns deadly attacks on polio workers in Pakistan

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and two United Nations agencies have condemned the killing of at least six people working on a polio vaccination campaign in Pakistan in the past 24 hours.

The six – reportedly five Pakistani women and one man – were shot dead in the city of Karachi in Sindh province and in the city of Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Pakistan is one of three countries, along with Afghanistan and Nigeria, where polio is still endemic.

The UN World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said that those killed were among thousands who work selflessly across Pakistan to eradicate polio. “Such attacks deprive Pakistan’s most vulnerable populations – especially children – of basic life-saving health interventions,” they said in a joint statement.

“We call on the leaders of the affected communities and everyone concerned to do their utmost to protect health workers and create a secure environment so that we can meet the health needs of the children of Pakistan,” the agencies added.

At a media briefing at UN Headquarters in New York today, a UN spokesperson, Martin Nesirky, said that Mr. Ban joins WHO and UNICEF in condemning these “senseless and inexcusable” attacks on health workers.

Mr. Nesirky also noted that the world body’s chief intends to express his condolences and condemnation of the attacks during a meeting today with Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN.

According to the joint statement by the agencies, the Government of Pakistan and the affected provinces have temporarily suspended the vaccination campaign due to concerns over the safety of health workers.

Polio is a highly infectious disease caused by a virus that can cause permanent paralysis in a matter of hours. Safe and effective vaccines protect children from the disease.

The secretary-general also met with the Pakistani permanent representative to the UN, Masood Khan, who will take over the rotating presidency of the Security Council next month. During that meeting, Ban expressed his condolences and condemned those attacks.

The United States also condemned the attack and the US State Department spokesperson, Victoria Nuland, said that the attacks on healthcare workers are unacceptable in any part of the world.

Speaking at regular press briefing, she expressed sympathy with the bereaved families of the victims.

No group claimed responsibility for the attacks. The government blames Taliban for such attacks, who oppose polio vaccination.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister, Raja Pervez Ashraf, have condemned the attacks and ordered inquiry.

Provincial Health Minister, Dr Sageer Ahmed, in Sindh province in a statement said that the WHO has closed its office in Karachi after the attacks. He termed the incidents as a conspiracy to frustrate the anti-polio drive in Sindh province.

MOURNING: Lady Health workers in Sindh have announced a four-day mourning to show solidarity with the affected families. They also demanded security before the campaign to be resumed.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=36344

Posted by Tahir Khan on Dec 19 2012. Filed under Latest News, Pakistan, USA, World. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.