October 12, 2021
1 min read

Unicef presses Taliban to resume kids’ vax drives

Several cases of polio and measles were reported in Afghanistan as the vaccination campaign had been affected following Taliban’s takeover in mid-August….reports Asian Lite News

The Unicef has urged the Taliban caretaker government in Afghanistan to resume children’s vaccination amid concerns of the spread of polio and measles in the war-torn country.

“The health system is about to collapse, we have weeks, not months or years. We will have humanitarian catastrophe,” Xinhua news agency quoted Unicef Deputy Executive Director Omar Abdi as saying in a statement on Twitter on Sunday.

Abdi, who recently ended a four-day visit to Afghanistan and neighbouring Pakistan, stressed the need of children access to basic healthcare, immunisation, nutrition, water and sanitation and child protection services.

In Kabul, Abdi visited the Indira Gandhi Children’s hospital during which he was accompanied by Unicef Regional Director George Laryea-Adjei and the Agency’s Afghanistan Representative Herve Ludovic de Lys.

In the nutrition ward, he met dozens of children suffering from severe acute malnutrition, a life-threatening condition.

According to the Unicef, without immediate action, an estimated 1 million children in Afghanistan are projected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition in 2021 and could die.

Severe outbreaks of measles and acute watery diarrhoea have further exacerbated the situation, putting more children at risk.

In Sunday’s statement, Abdi also called for an immediate resumption of measles and Covid-19 immunisation campaigns to help protect children and communities from vaccine-preventable diseases.

Several cases of polio and measles were reported in Afghanistan as the vaccination campaign had been affected following Taliban’s takeover in mid-August.

Afghanistan and Pakistan are the only countries in the world where polio remains endemic.

ALSO READ: Taliban to continue talks with US if necessary

ALSO READ: Taliban deploy new team in Doha talks

Previous Story

US dollar smuggling on the rise in Afghanistan

Next Story

Lanka denies Indian pressure over holding PC polls

Latest from -Top News

Multi-alignment, upgraded

With US ties strained and China tense, New Delhi taps Europe’s harder edge for co-development, clean tech and strategic autonomy, writes Manoj Menon India is recalibrating its great-power hedging as frictions with

Reeves urged to break manifesto pledges

Chancellor under pressure as £40bn fiscal gap looms, with critics warning against a “pasty tax” budget of piecemeal revenue raisers…reports Asian Lite News Rachel Reeves is facing growing unease inside Labour’s ranks

Starmer to Visit India on Wednesday

UK and India to cement strategic ties with new free trade agreement and deeper cooperation across defence, technology and climate Prime Minister Keir Starmer will make his first official visit to India

UAE, India join on child services

The United Arab Emirates and India have opened discussions to enhance cooperation in integrated child development services, focusing on early childhood education, nutrition, and child participation initiatives. The talks took place on
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Afghan crisis dominates Central Asian NSA meet in Delhi

Marat Imankulov, Secretary to the Security Council of Kyrgyzalso noted

‘Violent’ Mixed Martial Arts Banned In Afghanistan

The Ministry for the “Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention