Fighting prevents UNICEF measles vaccination

The UN Children's Fund, UNICEF, said heavy fighting in the western Upper Nile region was preventing a measles vaccination campaign from reaching tens of thousands of children. In a press release, received by IRIN on Wednesday, UNICEF said nearly 50,000 children under-five were unreachable in the towns of Baw, Duar, Koch, Leer and Nhialdiu. In some cases, fighting had interrupted active vaccination campaigns, UNICEF added. It said that along with Operation Lifeline Sudan, it could reach about 150,000 children in Upper Nile and Jonglei regions, if flight bans, conflict and the onset of the rainy season did not hinder access to remote areas. UNICEF also said the insecurity had probably forced thousands of people to flee the area, but OLS had not been able to investigate immediate humanitarian needs.