JALALABAD: Three Afghan women involved in a nationwide polio immunisation programme were killed by armed men on Tuesday.
The incidents in different areas were reported today, a day after authorities launched a new drive against the crippling disease. According to the Afghan ministry of health, the three women were killed in two separate attacks in the restive eastern city of Jalalabad.
An official at the Nangarhar governor’s office confirmed the incidents saying that they were all on duty going from house to house to vaccinate children.
A relative of one of the victims, Haji Maqbool talking to media said his niece had joined the immunisation programme to support her family and terrorists shot her dead this morning when she was on duty giving vaccines to children.
The witnesses of the killing of the other two workers said three gunmen had followed them before shooting them. “The female workers had stopped in front of a house and were knocking on the door. They were carrying a medical box and some papers,” a witness said.
A spokesman for the ministry of health said the vaccination drive had been temporarily suspended in Nangarhar. The top US envoy to Kabul, Ross Wilson, condemned the killings.
He said, “Today’s murder of three polio campaign workers demonstrates a total disregard for human life. Such attacks are a direct affront to Afghans’ dream of building a better life for their children. My deepest condolences for the victims’ families as we call for justice,” he tweeted.
(1/2) Today's murder of three polio campaign workers demonstrates a total disregard for human life. Such attacks are a direct affront to Afghans' dream of building a better life for their children. My deepest condolences for the victims' families as we call for justice.
— Chargé d’Affaires Karen Decker (@USAmbKabul) March 30, 2021
Polio has been eradicated across the world apart from Afghanistan and Pakistan, where distrust of vaccines is rife.
Officials say the Taliban won’t allow door-to-door campaigns in areas they control. The Taliban and hardline religious leaders often tell communities that vaccines are a Western conspiracy aimed at sterilizing Muslim children, and they also suspect immunisation drives are used for spying on militant activities.
The attack on the three polio workers comes amid a surge in violence across Afghanistan and despite peace talks launched between the Taliban and government last year.
A wave of assassinations against high-profile Afghans including journalists, activists and civil servants has particularly triggered fear across the nation. Officials have blamed the Taliban for much of the violence across Afghanistan. The insurgent group denies it is targeting civilians.
