An armed attack on polio vaccination workers has been reported in Afghanistan, with Taliban gunmen allegedly targeting health workers during a vaccination campaign and forcibly taking cash, mobile phones, and other equipment at gunpoint.
According to reports, the incident occurred while polio vaccination teams were carrying out their public health duties. Armed individuals allegedly intercepted the workers, threatened them with weapons, and seized their personal belongings and essential equipment used in vaccination activities.
The attack has raised fresh concerns over the safety of healthcare workers involved in critical immunisation campaigns, particularly those working to protect children against preventable diseases. Health workers operating in conflict-affected areas often face significant security challenges while attempting to deliver life-saving services to vulnerable communities.
Sources stated that the attackers took away cash, mobile phones, and other equipment from the vaccination workers before leaving the area. The incident has disrupted the work of frontline health teams and highlighted the risks faced by personnel engaged in humanitarian and public health operations.
Health and humanitarian officials have repeatedly stressed that vaccination workers must be allowed to perform their duties without fear, intimidation, or violence. Any obstruction or targeting of healthcare personnel can have serious consequences for public health efforts, especially programmes aimed at protecting children from diseases such as polio.
The reported attack has renewed calls for greater protection of healthcare workers and accountability for those responsible for acts of intimidation and violence against civilian service providers.
Authorities and relevant stakeholders are expected to investigate the incident further and take necessary measures to ensure the security of vaccination teams and the uninterrupted continuation of public health campaigns.
