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Jordan's Coronavirus Vaccination Program to Start Next Week

Jordanians wearing protective masks walk at a street of downtown Amman, Jordan. (EPA)
Jordanians wearing protective masks walk at a street of downtown Amman, Jordan. (EPA)
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Jordan's Coronavirus Vaccination Program to Start Next Week

Jordanians wearing protective masks walk at a street of downtown Amman, Jordan. (EPA)
Jordanians wearing protective masks walk at a street of downtown Amman, Jordan. (EPA)

Jordan’s health minister on Saturday said the country’s COVID-19 vaccination program will start within days.

The state news agency cited Nathir Obeidat as saying the rollout would start on Wednesday following the expected arrival of the first batches of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine on Monday. Supplies of the vaccine developed by China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm) would also arrive Saturday night.

Jordan had said on Jan. 3 it had struck a deal with Pfizer and partner BioNTech to buy 1 million doses of their vaccine and another 2 million doses from the World Health Organization’s COVAX program, which aims to vaccinate people in poor and middle income countries.

Obeidat has previously said the government intends to rollout a free inoculation program for more than 20 percent of the country’s 10 million population.

The vaccination program will prioritize the elderly, those with underlying conditions and health sector workers, the minister said on Saturday.

The government had reached initial understandings with AstraZeneca and Johnson and Johnson for their vaccines, he added.

Jordan, which has seen a sharp drop in infections since a second wave peaked in November when there was around 60 deaths per day, had recorded a total of 305,959 cases as of Saturday, with 4,009 deaths.

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UNIFIL Affirms Freedom of Movement Amid Tensions in South Lebanon

Residents inspect the damage to a building following an Israeli strike on the town of Ain Qana in southern Lebanon on Thursday night into Friday (AFP)
Residents inspect the damage to a building following an Israeli strike on the town of Ain Qana in southern Lebanon on Thursday night into Friday (AFP)
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UNIFIL Affirms Freedom of Movement Amid Tensions in South Lebanon

Residents inspect the damage to a building following an Israeli strike on the town of Ain Qana in southern Lebanon on Thursday night into Friday (AFP)
Residents inspect the damage to a building following an Israeli strike on the town of Ain Qana in southern Lebanon on Thursday night into Friday (AFP)

The United Nations peacekeeping force in south Lebanon (UNIFIL) has reaffirmed its authority to move freely and conduct patrols with or without Lebanese army presence, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1701.

The statement came after an incident in the town of Srifa, where local residents intercepted a UNIFIL patrol. A man climbed onto a UN vehicle and raised a Hezbollah flag in protest over the absence of a Lebanese army escort.

The incident occurred against the backdrop of ongoing Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement, which has been in place since November 2023.

Southern Lebanese villages, particularly those south of the Litani River, appeared nearly deserted during the Eid al-Adha holiday. In contrast to the crowds seen during Eid al-Fitr, most streets were empty, with only a few remaining residents visible.

The destruction caused by Israeli attacks has prevented many from returning to their homes in border villages. Continuous drone surveillance and frequent airstrikes have further discouraged residents from even briefly visiting their damaged properties.

Those who did visit on the first day of Eid described their trips as “urgent and brief,” citing the persistent threat of renewed attacks.

Israeli forces have been accused of several violations in recent days. Local media reported the abduction of a Lebanese shepherd near the town of Shebaa, as well as the injury of a civilian after an Israeli drone dropped two stun grenades in the town of Houla. Heavy machine gun fire was also reported near the towns of Rmeish and Aita al-Shaab.

UNIFIL confirmed the Srifa incident, with spokesperson Andrea Tenenti stating that a group of civilians stopped a scheduled patrol. “The peacekeepers were able to resume their duties after the Lebanese army intervened,” he said.

Tenenti emphasized that Resolution 1701 grants UNIFIL full freedom of movement, adding: “While we coordinate closely with the Lebanese army, freedom of movement is essential to fulfill our mandate.”

Incidents involving local opposition to UNIFIL patrols have become more frequent in recent weeks. With more than 400 patrols conducted daily in southern Lebanon, the Lebanese army is unable to accompany all of them due to limited manpower.

UNIFIL continues to view its presence as vital to regional stability, and discussions are underway to extend its mandate beyond August.