WHO says attack on Syria vaccine store leaves children at risk

The store had held 100,000 doses of measles vaccine, 35,000 doses of polio vaccine, plus syringes and other equipment

epa06261924 Displaced Syrian children who fled from Deir Ezzor and al-Raqqa cities occupied by Islamic State (IS) group fighters, gather in Qana refugee camp, southern Hassakeh province, 11 October 2017 (Issued 12 October 2017). The flow of displaced Syrians from the governorates of Deir Ezzor and al-Raqqa continues to Qana camp south of al-Hassakah city, to escape the fighting between the Islamic state organization and the fighting forces. The number of displaced people reached 27 thousand, while the capacity of the camp is 12 thousand, which let for the camp to stop receiving refugees for four days. EPA/YOUSSEF RABIH YOUSSEF

Displaced Syrian children who fled from Deir Ezzor and Raqqa cities seen in the Qana refugee camp in southern Hassakeh province on October 11, 2017. Youssef Rabih Youssef / EPA

Reuters

Oct 14, 2017

The World Health Organisation said it had received reports of an attack on medical facilities in eastern Syria that had destroyed a store containing more than 130,000 vaccine doses against measles and polio.

If confirmed, the WHO said, the attack would put thousands of children at risk of these serious infectious, viral diseases. Both can spread rapidly in areas of conflict.

"We unequivocally condemn these actions. Vaccines are not a legitimate target of war," the WHO's representative in Syria, Elizabeth Hoff, said in a statement issued late on Friday.

The WHO said the reports it received were of an attack on a vaccine cold room at health facilities in Al Mayadeen, near Deir Ezzor in eastern Syria. The WHO did not say whether the reports it received gave any detail on who carried out the reported attack.

The store had held 100,000 doses of measles vaccine, 35,000 doses of polio vaccine, plus syringes and other equipment.

"Until a new cold room is built and the required cold chain equipment — including solar fridges, cold boxes and vaccine carriers — are delivered, this will delay … routine immunisation for vulnerable children in the area," Ms Hoff said.

Polio — a viral disease that can cripple its victims — and measles — which can cause diarrhoea, blindness and can kill — tend to break out in war zones because low vaccine coverage leaves gaps in population immunity, exposing children to infection.

The WHO previously tackled a polio outbreak in the same area of Syria in 2013-2014. The UN health agency said that in its last polio vaccination campaign in Deir Ezzor it reached more than 252,000 babies and children.