OneWorld.net (U.S.)

Warring factions in Afghanistan have promised to honour tomorrow's International Day of Peace by putting down their weapons so that 1.3 million children can be vaccinated against polio.

More than 10,000 vaccinators are visiting areas in southern and eastern regions of the country as part of the National Immunization Days organized by UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO) and Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) to reach children with polio vaccines from 19-21 September.

Many of the areas being visited by the immunization teams were missed during previous drives due to security concerns. Some of the more volatile districts have not been accessible for two years.

According to news reports, the Taliban have said that all insurgents have been told to protect the staff involved in the polio vaccination campaign.

A Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said, "We will fully help the vaccination teams to carry out their campaign and they will not to be hurt by anyone as all our friends have been told to provide a safe environment for the vaccinators."

A call to lay aside weapons

The major focus for this year's International Day of Peace is Afghanistan, which has recently seen a dramatic escalation in violence. The United Nations called on all parties to the conflict there to lay aside their weapons. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called for people around the world to observe a moment of silence at noon.

"As the guns fall silent, we should use this opportunity to ponder the price we all pay due to conflict, and we should resolve to vigorously pursue ways to make permanent this day's pause," Mr. Ban said in a statement.

This is the first time the people of Afghanistan joined by the UN agencies, non-governmental and community-based organizations, government ministries and the media are celebrating the International Day of Peace here in a country that has experienced over two decades of conflict. Read more

Source: UNICEF