Fresh wave of militant attacks sees UN suspend its polio programme
New killings follow the murder of six female vaccinators in the country on Tuesday
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The United Nations has suspended its polio vaccination programme in two Pakistani provinces after a health worker and her driver were killed in a second wave of gun attacks.
The killings followed the murder of six female vaccinators in the country on Tuesday, after which the government halted vaccinations across the country’s largest city, Karachi.
The suspension of the UN vaccination drive is a major setback for a campaign that international health officials consider vital to contain the crippling disease but which Taliban insurgents say is a cover for espionage.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks, but suspicion has fallen on the Pakistani Taliban because of their virulent opposition to the polio campaign. The group’s spokesman, Ahsanullah Ahsan, denied responsibility in a telephone call to The Associated Press yesterday but police said they had killed two militant suspects and arrested a dozen others in connection to the attacks.
The recent violence threatens to reverse the significant progress made this year in preventing polio in Pakistan, one of only three countries where the disease is endemic. Militants accuse health workers of acting as spies for the US after a fake vaccination programme was used to gather intelligence on Osama Bin Laden, and many claim the vaccine makes children sterile. Taliban commanders in the troubled northwest tribal region have also said vaccinations can’t go forward until the US stops drone strikes in the country.
AP
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments