| "Send in some more hostages!" |
The Afghan public health minister announced that the campaign in four southern provinces will continue for two days to eliminate the virus which still exists but with very few cases in Afghanistan. The campaign is being undertaken in Helmand, Uruzgan, Farah and Kandahar provinces. A similar two-day campaign will also be kicked off on September 24 in three eastern provinces: Kunar, Nangarhar and Laghman. Both the south and east are among the most volatile zones of Afghanistan.Dr Abdullah Fahim, spokesman for the Public Health Ministry, told Deutsche Presse-Agentur DPA the two zones were singled out for the polio vaccinations because the virus was found there recently. He said nine cases of polio have been found in the targeted provinces. Insecurity in the two zones has hindered previous vaccination campaigns there.
Meanwhile, the Taleban have said in an unprecedented manner that all insurgents have been told to protect the staff involved in the polio vaccination campaign. A Taleban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, told dpa: ‘We will fully help the vaccination teams to carry out their campaign and (they will) not to be hurt by anyone as all our friends have been told to provide a safe environment for the vaccinators.’
| Until they need cash ... |