UNICEF Project Killed Indian Children

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India slams UNICEF for uncooperative attitude in children deaths

 

Guwahati, Jan 6, IRNA -- India on Sunday slammed the UNICEF for

not

cooperating in a probe over a botched anti-blindness drive that

claimed the lives of 23 children in the northeastern state of Assam.

"It was really unfortunate to find the UNICEF being irresponsible

and uncooperative in the investigations to ascertain the real cause

for the death of 23 children and thousands that fell sick after taking

Vitamin A syrup," Assam's Health Minister Bhumidhar Barman told IRNA.

Some 3.2 million children under the age of six participated in

the UNICEF-sponsored night blindness eradication campaign across Assam

on November 11, 2001.

The much-hyped anti-blindness drive turned fatal barely 24 hours

after the vitamin syrups were administered, with more than a thousand

children complaining of severe vomiting and high fever leading to the

death of some 23 of them.

The Assam government had earlier blamed "contaminated" vitamin

supplies for the casualties.

The UNICEF had denied the allegations, saying the deaths were not

related to the vitamin intakes by the children.

"We would seek legal help to see how UNICEF is made to respond to

the investigations," the minister said. "It was a matter of death of

innocent children and so all parties, be it the government or the

UNICEF, should be transparent and responsible."

The UNICEF claimed it was "immune to any criminal investigation"

and so refused to cooperate with the probe ordered by the Assam

government.

"UNICEF official John Gill Martin said in a reply to our

queries that they would not provide any information on the Vitamin A

campaign unless asked to do so by the Indian (Ministry of) External

Affairs," an inquiry report submitted to the Guwahati High Court said.

Meanwhile, parents were apprehensive to take their children

Sunday for a statewide anti-polio drive in Assam. India has

successfully managed to control the spread of polio, but has failed

short of total eradication of the deadly virus.

"I would like to assure that the polio drops are fully tested and

people should not be worried or apprehensive about anything," the

minister said.

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