Iraq to Enforce Law in Diyala

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. (Reuters)
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. (Reuters)
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Iraq to Enforce Law in Diyala

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. (Reuters)
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. (Reuters)

Iraqi special forces coming from the capital Baghdad have started enforcing the law in the province of Diyala (60 km northeast of Baghdad), in implementation of orders by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.

The forces deployed in various regions of the province in search of wanted individuals who carried out recent assassinations of citizens, and medical and scientific figures.

Meanwhile, the Sheikh of Bani Tamim tribes Mustafa al-Tamimi granted the government 10 days to arrest the perpetrators.

A security source in the province stated that the special forces would carry out security missions in other administrative units in line with plans set by Sudani during a visit to Diyala on Wednesday.

Sudani has given security commanders two weeks to stabilize the area.

The source added that the operations would continue until all arrest warrants issued against individuals involved in various crimes and charges are executed.

The forces deployed in around nine regions in Diyala to assure the locals, track suspects and fugitives and deter criminal and terrorist networks and groups, the source added.

Minister of Interior Abdul Amir Al-Shammari ordered security forces in Diyala to intensify security and intelligence efforts and to end the violations.

Major General Khaled Al-Mahna, the spokesman of the Ministry of Interior, stressed that the security agencies are keen on arresting whoever attempts to destabilize the province.



UNICEF: Gaza Fighting Pauses Agreed to Finish Polio Vaccinations

FILED - 01 September 2024, Palestinian Territories, Deir al-Balah: A child is vaccinated against the polio virus at the health center in Deir al-Balah. Photo: Abed Rahim Khatib/dpa
FILED - 01 September 2024, Palestinian Territories, Deir al-Balah: A child is vaccinated against the polio virus at the health center in Deir al-Balah. Photo: Abed Rahim Khatib/dpa
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UNICEF: Gaza Fighting Pauses Agreed to Finish Polio Vaccinations

FILED - 01 September 2024, Palestinian Territories, Deir al-Balah: A child is vaccinated against the polio virus at the health center in Deir al-Balah. Photo: Abed Rahim Khatib/dpa
FILED - 01 September 2024, Palestinian Territories, Deir al-Balah: A child is vaccinated against the polio virus at the health center in Deir al-Balah. Photo: Abed Rahim Khatib/dpa

Humanitarian pauses in the war in the Gaza Strip have been agreed to allow a second round of polio vaccinations targeting 590,000 children under the age of 10 to start on Oct. 14, the head of the UN children's agency UNICEF said on Thursday.
"Area-specific humanitarian pauses have been agreed. It is critical that these pauses are respected by all parties. Without them, it is impossible to vaccinate the children," UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said in a statement.
The first round of the polio vaccination campaign, which began on Sept. 1, reached its target of 90% of children under 10 years of age, the United Nations has said. It was carried out in phases over two weeks during humanitarian pauses in the fighting between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas.
The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed in August that a baby was partially paralyzed by the type 2 polio virus, the first such case in the territory in 25 years.
"UNICEF will include Vitamin A supplements to strengthen children's immune systems. Children in Gaza live in extremely dire hygiene and sanitation conditions," Reuters quoted Russell as saying.
"With the additional vaccine equipment and cold boxes that arrived yesterday, UNICEF is ready to deliver and vaccinate children to stop the transmission of polio," she said. "The success of the first round shows that when agreements are respected, we can get the job done."