Polio Workers Killed, Injured in Pakistan
ENLARGEA man mourns over the covered body of his brother who was among four workers of a polio drive campaign shot by gunmen in Quetta, Pakistan. Reuters
Syed Shoaib Hasan
KARACHI, Pakistan—Gunmen shot dead four polio workers, including three women, in an attack Wednesday in the southwestern Pakistani city of Quetta, police officials said.
The attack represents the latest setback to efforts to curb the crippling disease. Pakistan is one of only three countries, along with Nigeria and Afghanistan, where the disease is endemic.
At least three other workers were also injured in the attack, which took place during a vaccination drive on the eastern outskirts of Quetta. Imran Qureshi, a senior Quetta police official, said gunmen on motorcycles opened fire on the polio workers as they were waiting to start the campaign.
“Two workers were killed instantly, while the remaining died on the way to the hospital,” Mr. Qureshi said.
The attack was the second on polio workers in Pakistan within 24 hours. On Tuesday, Pakistani Taliban militants claimed responsibility for a gun attack in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province that left a polio worker fighting for his life.
Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif condemned the attacks. State broadcaster Radio Pakistan quoted him as saying those who targeted polio workers were “enemies of Pakistan.”
At least 256 polio cases in Pakistan have been reported this year, making it the highest number in 14 years. At least 13 of those cases were in Baluchistan, Pakistani health officials say.
Provincial officials in Quetta said the rise in the number of cases had prompted the current campaign as a special effort to target the disease in 11 districts listed as high risk. But Wednesday’s attack means the campaign has now been suspended until further notice, officials said.
While there was no immediate claim of responsibility for Wednesday’s attack, Taliban militants from the Jamaatul Ahrar group took responsibility for Tuesday’s shooting. It was the first time that a militant group had taken direct responsibility for targeting a polio team.
The Pakistani Taliban have banned polio campaigns in regions controlled by them, accusing the polio workers for spying for Western countries. But until Tuesday’s attack, they have also denied carrying out attacks on the teams themselves.
Security officials say that at least 11 people have been killed in such attacks in 2014.
Source http://wsj.com/articles/polio-workers-killed-injured-in-pakistan-1417008255?mobile=y
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