8 health workers killed in separate shootings in Afghanistan

At least eight health workers, including four female vaccinators, were killed in separate shooting attacks during a polio vaccination drive in Afghanistan's two northern provinces on Thursday, reported Xinhua, quoting local sources.

In Kunduz province, seven people, including four women, were killed after two vaccination teams came under attacks by gunmen in Chahartaq locality of the provincial capital city of Kunduz, and in the neighboring Imam Sahib district at around midday, a provincial official told Xinhua anonymously.

Earlier, Najibullah Sahil, head of provincial health directorate, told Xinhua that two dead health workers were sent to a provincial hospital and their family members were notified.

In the neighboring Takhar province, one polio vaccinator was shot dead by gunmen on the northern outskirts of the provincial capital city of Taluqan, according to a provincial source.

No group has claimed responsibility for the shootings.

On Monday, the Ministry of Public Health of the Afghan caretaker government kicked off a nationwide polio vaccination campaign to give polio vaccination doses to 9.1 million Afghan children under 5.

The vaccination process in Kunduz has been suspended following the attacks, according to local sources.