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Iraq Health Ministry Accused of Failing to Provide COVID-19 Vaccine

A member of the Iraqi civil defense disinfects a room at a local TV station in the central Baghdad. (AFP)
A member of the Iraqi civil defense disinfects a room at a local TV station in the central Baghdad. (AFP)
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Iraq Health Ministry Accused of Failing to Provide COVID-19 Vaccine

A member of the Iraqi civil defense disinfects a room at a local TV station in the central Baghdad. (AFP)
A member of the Iraqi civil defense disinfects a room at a local TV station in the central Baghdad. (AFP)

A decision by Iraq’s Higher Committee for Health and National Safety to impose a new lockdown in the country over the coronavirus pandemic has sparked popular outrage.

Some people interpreted the move as an attempt by authorities to avoid the health crisis instead of confronting it through practical means, such as providing vaccines to the people.

The authorities have so far failed to procure vaccines.

Others have slammed the lockdown, saying it will compound poverty and economic hardships.

On Sunday, the health ministry recorded 2,224 new coronavirus cases, raising the tally to 643,852, including 13,179 deaths.

According to the World Health Organizations, Iraq is one of the most affected Arab and Middle Eastern countries by the pandemic.

The committee, headed by Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, approved on Saturday a package of health restrictions, including reimposing full night curfew to face the recent alarming rise in coronavirus cases.

Mosques and prayer halls will be closed, opening only at prayer times to raise the call for prayer.

All funeral venues, wedding halls and parks will also be shut, announced the committee, warning that a fine of 25,000 IQD will be imposed against violators.

Public and private schools, institutes, and universities will hold their classes online, starting February 18.

It said that beauty parlors will be closed for a period of two weeks.

The decision exempts personnel of the Ministry of Health, security forces, service departments and vegetable stores.

For the first time, the new decision imposes fines of up to five million Iraqi dinars on cafes, restaurants and parks that violate the health measures and the lockdown.

The parliamentary health committee had previously expected the arrival of the first batch of coronavirus vaccines from Pfizer or other sources to Iraq in late February or early March.

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UN Says It's Ready to Ramp Up Delivery of Desperately Needed Aid to Gaza

A Palestinian man rides a donkey-pulled cart along a street on a misty morning in Khan Yunis in the northern Gaza Strip on January 17, 2025, as Israel's security cabinet is expected to approve a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal. (Photo by Bashar TALEB / AFP)
A Palestinian man rides a donkey-pulled cart along a street on a misty morning in Khan Yunis in the northern Gaza Strip on January 17, 2025, as Israel's security cabinet is expected to approve a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal. (Photo by Bashar TALEB / AFP)
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UN Says It's Ready to Ramp Up Delivery of Desperately Needed Aid to Gaza

A Palestinian man rides a donkey-pulled cart along a street on a misty morning in Khan Yunis in the northern Gaza Strip on January 17, 2025, as Israel's security cabinet is expected to approve a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal. (Photo by Bashar TALEB / AFP)
A Palestinian man rides a donkey-pulled cart along a street on a misty morning in Khan Yunis in the northern Gaza Strip on January 17, 2025, as Israel's security cabinet is expected to approve a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal. (Photo by Bashar TALEB / AFP)

The United Nations said Wednesday that it’s ready to ramp up the delivery of desperately needed humanitarian aid to Gaza following a ceasefire agreement and urged the removal of major security and political obstacles so supplies can reach all Palestinians in need.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the announcement of a deal to pause the fighting “a critical first step” and told reporters that the UN’s top priority must be to ease the tremendous suffering caused by the conflict triggered by Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attacks in southern Israel, The Associated Press said.
“The humanitarian situation is at catastrophic levels,” he said. “From our side, we will do whatever is humanly possible, aware of the serious challenges and serious constraints that we will be facing.”
UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher said aid agencies have been mobilizing supplies in preparation for a ceasefire to scale up deliveries of food, medical supplies and other key items.
Less than half of Gaza’s 36 hospitals are functional, water production is at a quarter of capacity, 95% of school buildings have been damaged or destroyed and nearly all of Gaza’s 2.1 million people are facing high levels of food insecurity, said Catherine Russell, executive director of the UN children’s agency UNICEF.
The top UN humanitarian official for Gaza, Sigrid Kaag, met with senior Israeli and Palestinian officials in recent days to discuss how to increase aid after a ceasefire agreement, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Tuesday.
Kaag’s meetings focused on trying to overcome challenges to deliveries that could remain even after the deal, including gunmen stripping convoys of aid, Israeli restrictions on access to Gaza, road damage, unexplored ordnance, fuel shortages and a lack of telecommunications equipment, he said.
The UN humanitarian office reported Tuesday that “Israeli authorities continue to deny UN-led efforts to reach people with vital assistance,” Dujarric said. In northern Gaza, where Israel launched its latest offensive, the UN has been denied access to deliver food supplies since Dec. 20, he said.
In addition to the lawlessness, the United Nations faces a major political obstacle. Its humanitarian operation in Gaza depends on the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, known as UNRWA, which Israel’s parliament voted to ban from operating in the Palestinian territories. That legislation takes effect on Jan. 28.
Guterres has said there is no UN agency that can replace UNRWA, and if it is banned from operating, Israel as the occupying power in the Palestinian territories must take responsibility for providing aid.
UN officials said it’s imperative that the ceasefire deal is fully implemented and aid is allowed to flow freely.
“With the collapse of essential services across Gaza, we must act urgently to save lives and help children recover,” Russell of UNICEF said in a statement.
Guterres said the United Nations expects its efforts to be matched by other humanitarian organizations, the private sector and government initiatives.
David Miliband, head of the International Rescue Committee, said aid groups must be given full access and adequate funding to rush aid to Gaza’s people after 15 months with limited food, clean water and medical care. He said his organization would quickly ramp up efforts: “The needs are immense and need urgent attention.”
Jan Egeland, a former UN humanitarian chief who heads the Norwegian Refugee Council, said, “Israel must immediately lift all restrictions on aid and humanitarian agencies to avert famine-like conditions and ensure access to shelter, food, and medical care for all in need.”
He called on the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom and other nations “to make sure Israel does keep all crossings open, enabling a sustained flow of aid that can alleviate further suffering.”
US President Joe Biden, speaking in Washington, said, “The surge of humanitarian assistance into Gaza will begin. And the innocent people can have a greater access to these vital supplies.