85% of children affected by polio by 2023 live in fragile and conflict-affected areas: UNICEF
On World Polio Day, UNICEF has issued a stark warning: the number of polio cases in fragile and conflict-affected countries has more than doubled in the past five years, with 85% of children affected by the disease year 2023 living in these areas.
“In conflict, children face more than bombs and bullets; they are at risk of contracting deadly diseases that should no longer exist,” he said. UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. A new analysis by the agency highlights that vaccination rates have dropped from 75 to 70%, far below the 95% needed to achieve herd immunity.
“In many countries, we are seeing the collapse of health care systems, the destruction of water and sanitation infrastructure, and the displacement of families,” she continued. causing a resurgence of diseases such as polio.”
Impact on conflict-affected countries
The resurgence of polio is most evident in conflict zones. Of the 21 countries currently battling polio, 15 are vulnerable or affected by conflict, including Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen.
In Gaza, after polio returned to the region for the first time in 25 years, UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO) has been released emergency polio vaccination campaign in September, reaching nearly 600,000 children under 10 years old. However, new bombings and mass evacuations delayed the completion of the operation in northern Gaza.
Critical humanitarian pause
The UNICEF report emphasizes that successful polio vaccination campaigns in fragile and conflict-affected countries are critical to preventing further outbreaks. Humanitarian pauses, allowing health workers to safely reach affected communities, are essential to these efforts.
UNICEF provides more than one billion doses of polio vaccine every yearcalls on governments and international partners to take urgent action to stop the spread of the epidemic.
‘The final push’
Ms Russell added: “The spread of polio not only puts children in affected countries in immediate danger, but also poses a growing threat to neighboring countries.”
“The final push is the hardest, but now is the time to act. We cannot rest until every child, everywhere in the world, is safe from polio – once and for all.”
