Deadly Attack on Polio Workers in Pakistan: A Grim Reminder

A polio worker and a policeman were killed in an ambush in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan. This marks the second attack on polio workers during the national vaccination campaign. Police have cordoned off the area, but no group has claimed responsibility. The attack underscores the persistent threat to polio eradication efforts in the region.

A polio worker and a policeman were fatally shot on Wednesday when unidentified gunmen ambushed a team of polio vaccinators in Pakistan’s troubled Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, according to police reports. The tragic incident highlights the ongoing risks faced by health workers in the region.

Upon the attack, police swiftly arrived at the scene and secured the area in Salarzai tehsil of Bajaur district. Currently, no group has claimed responsibility for the assault, but militants often target polio workers in this volatile province.

The attack comes as Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur denounced the violence and demanded an urgent report from district police. This marks the second recent strike against polio workers; earlier this week, a bomb injured six individuals in South Waziristan’s Wana town. The spate of violence threatens to derail Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to eradicate polio, with several cases recorded already this year after nearly achieving zero cases in 2021.