UN calls for ceasefire for polio shots in Blue Nile, Kordofan
The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan called upon the Sudanese government and the rebels to agree to a ceasefire with a minimum of 10 days in the conflict-affected South Kordofan and Blue Nile states, to allow for a polio vaccination campaign for hundreds of thousands of young children. Geert Cappelaere further asked the Sudanese government and the rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) to “ensure that the interests of the children are of primary consideration” at their next negotiation round in Addis Ababa, scheduled on 12 November. In the press statement released on Thursday, Cappelaere expressed his deep concern that children in South Kordofan and Blue Nile “may again be at high risk of contracting polio”. Sudan was recently declared polio-free, but the UN reported that two new cases have emerged this week in South Sudan’s Unity state, near the border with South Kordofan, increasing the risk that the virus may return to Sudan. The humanitarian coordinator stressed that South Kordofan and Blue Nile, known as the Two Areas, are of particular concern, as no polio vaccinations have taken place in several localities there since the military conflict erupted between government forces and the SPLM-N in 2011. ‘Blue Nile vaccinations start’ Local authorities in Blue Nile announced last week that a campaign to eliminate polio and vitamin A deficiency will begin in early November across the state. The Sudanese News Agency (Suna) interviewed the director of the vaccination department, who said that the polio vaccination campaign aims to cover 192,735 children in all localities. Ahmed Mohamed El Ahimer pointed out that the department will implement a house-to-house policy. ‘No access’ for UN campaign The UN have planned for a polio vaccination campaign for 165,000 children under-five years of age in the Two Areas since April 2013. “It is vital that every effort is made to ensure that this vaccination campaign takes place immediately,” Cappelaere said. Exactly one year ago, the government and the SPLM-N failed to agree on a ceasefire during the two-week vaccination campaign scheduled to start on 5 November 2013. Director of Operations John Ging at the time: “Once again we don’t have any access at all.” File photo: A girl carries her younger sibling in Blue Nile state (RadioTamazuj) Related: AU invites Sudan’s rebels to next round of talks (27 October 2014) ‘170,000 newly displaced in rebel-held South Kordofan, Sudan’ (18 July 2014) ‘More troops to South Kordofan’: Sudan security (13 April 2014)
The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan called upon the Sudanese government and the rebels to agree to a ceasefire with a minimum of 10 days in the conflict-affected South Kordofan and Blue Nile states, to allow for a polio vaccination campaign for hundreds of thousands of young children.
Geert Cappelaere further asked the Sudanese government and the rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) to “ensure that the interests of the children are of primary consideration” at their next negotiation round in Addis Ababa, scheduled on 12 November. In the press statement released on Thursday, Cappelaere expressed his deep concern that children in South Kordofan and Blue Nile “may again be at high risk of contracting polio”.
Sudan was recently declared polio-free, but the UN reported that two new cases have emerged this week in South Sudan’s Unity state, near the border with South Kordofan, increasing the risk that the virus may return to Sudan. The humanitarian coordinator stressed that South Kordofan and Blue Nile, known as the Two Areas, are of particular concern, as no polio vaccinations have taken place in several localities there since the military conflict erupted between government forces and the SPLM-N in 2011.
‘Blue Nile vaccinations start’
Local authorities in Blue Nile announced last week that a campaign to eliminate polio and vitamin A deficiency will begin in early November across the state. The Sudanese News Agency (Suna) interviewed the director of the vaccination department, who said that the polio vaccination campaign aims to cover 192,735 children in all localities. Ahmed Mohamed El Ahimer pointed out that the department will implement a house-to-house policy.
‘No access’ for UN campaign
The UN have planned for a polio vaccination campaign for 165,000 children under-five years of age in the Two Areas since April 2013. “It is vital that every effort is made to ensure that this vaccination campaign takes place immediately,” Cappelaere said.
Exactly one year ago, the government and the SPLM-N failed to agree on a ceasefire during the two-week vaccination campaign scheduled to start on 5 November 2013. Director of Operations John Ging at the time: “Once again we don’t have any access at all.”
File photo: A girl carries her younger sibling in Blue Nile state (RadioTamazuj)
Related:
AU invites Sudan’s rebels to next round of talks (27 October 2014)
‘170,000 newly displaced in rebel-held South Kordofan, Sudan’ (18 July 2014)
‘More troops to South Kordofan’: Sudan security (13 April 2014)
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