Tens of thousands of children were not vaccinated because militants in the affected areas had opposed the vaccination campaigns. This is thought to have contributed to the 117 polio cases reported in 2008, a sharp increase on the 32 reported in 2007. So far in 2009 12 new cases have been reported, compared to seven by the same date in 2008, according to data maintained by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.

The presence of thousands of children from Swat and other northern areas in Pakistan’s camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) offers an unexpected opportunity for anti-polio teams to vaccinate those who could not previously be accessed, say specialists.

“This is a great opportunity to immunize these children who are coming from areas we haven’t been able to access before. In fact we have set up transit points to catch children on the move,” Melissa Corkum, programme communication specialist polio/EPI (Expanded Programme on Immunization) for the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), told IRIN.

UNICEF in Peshawar, capital of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) has begun vaccination campaigns and is working with relevant government departments. In seven camps 15,000 children are being vaccinated against polio and 9,389 against measles.

UNICEF is providing safe water and sanitation facilities in four newly established camps to more than 22,000 people to prevent the spread of diseases among children. Facilities provided include latrines, water tanks and deep boreholes for safe drinking water.

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