According to statement from the UN Country Group.
Two vaccinators and a social activist were killed in the Emamsaheb district of Kunduz province.
Before the carnage, the United Nations immediately suspended the national polio vaccination campaign in Kunduz and Takhar provinces.
Violation of humanitarian law
Ramiz Alakbarov, the Secretary-General’s Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan, took to Twitter to express his condemnation in the strongest of terms. He said the attacks and assassinations were a violation of international humanitarian law.
The head of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyeus, also expressed his profound shock. Four of the paramedics are women, he said in a post on Twitter.
“We offer our deepest condolences to their families and colleagues, adding that healthcare workers should not be targeted,” he wrote.
Health under fire
The UN national team was appalled by the brutality of the killings, noting that this is not the first time health workers have been attacked.
Last year, nine polio workers were killed during national polio vaccination campaigns.
These immunization exercises are an important and effective way to reach millions of children to protect them against polio, and deprive them of their assurance of a healthy life is inhumane.
“This senseless violence must stop immediately, and those responsible must be investigated and brought to justice. These attacks are a violation of international humanitarian law.”
The UN strongly condemns all attacks on health workers anywhere, emphasizing that health care delivery is impartial.
© UNICEF / K. Shah
An infant is vaccinated against polio during a campaign targeting more than six million children in Afghanistan. (file)
Children suffer the most
The polio vaccination campaign in Afghanistan is supported by WHO, together with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and other partners.
They planned to target nearly 10 million minors across the country this month, with four more rounds scheduled for the rest of the year.
Dr. Ahmed Al-Mandhari, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, speak Stopping the program in Kunduz and Takhar provinces left thousands of children unprotected and exposed to a life-threatening disease that can lead to permanent paralysis.
In calling for an end to “senseless attacks” on healthcare workers, Dr Al-Mandhari pointed out that they are strictly forbidden to follow all faiths.
“These cowardly acts only end up harming innocent children, who must be given every opportunity to live a safe and healthy life.” he say.
“WHO condemns all attacks on medical staff in the strongest terms and calls on the Taliban Authorities to immediately identify and bring the perpetrators to justice.”
