According to Sudanese civil society organisations more than 165,000 children in the rebel-controlled areas in South Kordofan and Blue Nile States, are badly in need of polio and yellow fever vaccinations. On the International Human Rights Day on 10 December the organisations announced that together they intend to launch an independent campaign to provide medical aid to the needy in the war-torn Blue Nile and the Nuba Mountains in South Kordofan.
In a press conference at the Sudanese Observatory for Human Rights on Tuesday, the president of the Confederation of Sudanese Civil Society Organisations, Dr El Bagir El Afif, called upon independent institutions and humanitarian organisations to join a polio and yellow fever vaccination campaign in the two Sudanese states.
El Afif, who is also director of El Khatim Adlan Centre, branded the government’s indifference towards the rampant epidemics in the war-torn areas as a gross violation of human rights, affirming that the Confederation will lobby with the parties involved in the conflict to allow the vaccines to reach its targeted places.
The renowned Sudanese lawyer, Nabil Adib, vehemently rejected the idea of using medical services and life saving medicines as a weapon of war. “The primary obligation of human rights defenders is to draw attention to the most pressing issues of human rights and dignity.”
The head of the Sudanese Doctors’ Syndicate, Dr Ahmed El Sheikh, confirmed the syndicate’s readiness to participate in the proposed vaccinate campaign. He stated that no vaccinations in those war-torn regions serve as an extermination of the people living in the areas. “Leaving people threatened with epidemics without any medical help, is more dangerous than gunshots and aerial bombardments.”
File photo: Dr El Bagir El Afif in his office in El Khatim Adlan Centre in Khartoum (John Akec)
Related:
HAC promises new polio vaccination date (23 November 2013)
Sudan started fierce attack in Nuba Mountains instead of polio campaign (15 November 2013)
UN: Polio vaccination campaign in Sudan has failed (12 November 2013)