UN Gets Paid for Vaccinating, But Doesn't Pay Victims in Haiti of Cholera

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, July 7 -- After bringing cholera to Haiti, the UN has refused to help the families of those killed by the cholera. Now the UN belatedly has a rule to get reimbursed by Troop Contributing Countries if it vaccinates their soldiers (here at Para 61) - but still no compensation for the victims. Inner City Press on July 7 asked UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric:

Inner City Press: Two very quick questions.  One has to do with contingent on equipment and this new guidance that's put out by the Secretariat about vaccinations noted by PassBlue.  They've noted that, and I'm looking at it now, that the UN now tells countries to vaccinate their peacekeepers if they come from a high-risk area, and if they don't vaccinate, the UN will do it and charge them.  Can you say, this seems to be a response to what occurred in Haiti?  And what would you say to those who say, if you're going to get into the UN receiving compensation for vaccinating peacekeepers, what about compensation for people that were made sick by the previous failure to have this policy?

Spokesman Dujarric:  Well, I don't think we're getting compensation for vaccinating peacekeepers.  I think what's important is that we keep improving our policies to keep people safe.

Inner City Press:  Right, but the sentence says, "The UN will deduct any expenses for vaccinations"…

Spokesman Dujarric:  That's not compensation.  That's just covering of costs.

Inner City Press:  Right.  It seems like a small amount of money, so…

Spokesman Dujarric:  Right, but… I… I… we agree to disagree.

  Meanwhile outgoing UN envoy on cholera Medrano did an "interview" with the UN's own UN News Centrewithout mentioning that the UN brought the disease to Haiti; the UN on July 6 "reported" about cholera without mentioning Haiti, here.

When UN Peacekeepers are determined, by the UN itself, to have killed three civilians in Mali by using excessive force, what accountability is there?  None - and UN Peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous on April 2 refused to answer questions about his own responsibility. Video here.Vine here.  

 On June 23, Inner City Press asked Mali's foreign minister to confirm that the UN is going to pay compensation to the families of those its peacekeepers killed in Gao. He told Inner City Press to "ask the UN."

  And so Inner City Press did ask, at the June 23 noon briefing:

Inner City Press: This is something that the Malian Foreign Minister said to ask you.  So, I want to say that in advance before asking you.  And it has to do with whether… I asked him whether the UN is in fact going to pay monetary compensation to civilians that were killed by peacekeepers in Gao in that report that was issued some time ago.  And he said:  You should ask the UN.  So, I'm asking you.  Is the…

Spokesman:  Okay.  I will… let me check on what we'd announced at the time, and I'll get back to you.  [He later added that a compensation fund had been set up by the Department of Field Support.]

 The bracketed material, Dujarric's Office added to the transcript, after emailing Inner City Press this:

"Regarding your question on compensation for casualties in Gao, Mali, we would like to recall that a compensation fund has been set up by the Department of Field Support."

  Inner City Press has been told - NOT by the Spokesperson's Office -- that the UN is calculating how much to pay each family in Mali. But why has the UN paid NOTHING to the families of those killed by the cholera the UN brought to Haiti? Inner City Press asked the UN's Mali envoy Mongi Hamdi, who gamely tried to distinguish the two cases, focusing on the UN exonerating itself in Haiti. We'll have more on this.

  On June 11, the day after an attack against Malian military posts in the south of the country that killed one soldier and injured two, MINUSMA issued a statement which the Free UN Coalition for Access translates here:

  “MINUSMA firmly condemns the cowardly terrorist attack  against posts of the Malian military and security forces in Misseni / Kadiolo, in the south of Mali. The attack early on the morning of June 10 killed one soldier and injured two, as well as causing physical damage. MINUSMA offers its condolence to the Government and Armed Forces of Mali as well as to the soldier's family. The Mission wishes a fast recovery for the two wounded soldiers. MINUSMA again underlines the urgency of advancing the peace process to ensure that the Government and the stakeholders can combine their efforts and act in unity to put an end to the terrorism which threatens Mali and its people.”

  That the attack happened in southern and not northern Mali may be a bad omen.

After his May 16 press conference in Bamako, Ladsoussaid the UN's report about its killings in Gao will never be released; follow up question here. During the press conference, tellingly, Ladsous berated Malians for not sufficiently thanking... France and its Force Serval. Audio here, Minute 27:52.  

  Ladsous said, referring to criticism of him and his mission by Mali's president and others at the signing ceremony the day before, "Did I hear a single word of thanks for France and its Operation Serval? No." (Translation by Free UN Coalition for Access.)

   In this use of his UN post to serve France, for which he was a (most undiplomatic) diplomat for decades, this is similar to Ladsous' much worse intervention into the process of the UN Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights in trying to get fired OHCHR whistleblower Anders Kompass, who exposed reports of French Sangaris Force soldiers raping children.

  This appears in the UN Dispute Tribunal rulingreinstating Kompass, at Paragraph 9. It was not contested by OHCHR.  Ladsous, breaking with his striking refusal to answer Press questions, told Inner City Press, "I deny that." Video here.

 But Ladsous has not explained or answered what he is denying: getting involved in l'affaire Kompass at all, or just the wording? Ladsous was not asked this question in Bamako. 

 On May 18, Inner City Press asked the UN's deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq who Ladsous was speaking for:

Inner City Press: Mr. [Hervé] Ladsous of DPKO held a press conference in Bamako over the weekend.  There was some criticism, by actually the President of Mali, of the mission.  But, I wanted to ask specifically, in his press conference, he said that he sort of chided, he said:  Was there even a word of thanks for its operation in Sangaris?  No.  Isn't that curious?  And I wanted to know, in what capacity was he saying that?  Is the UN?  Does the UN have a position on Malians not being sufficiently grateful to France or was he speaking in some other capacity?

Deputy Spokesman:  I don't have any real comment.  I would just refer you to the text of his statements.  And if you have anything further, you can ask our colleagues in peacekeeping.

  Later on May 18, a well placed African Permanent Representative said "Ladsous should resign."

 On May 10, two UN Peacekeepers were wounded in Mopti in Mali, see below.

 Now Ladsous is under fire for appearing in a UN Dispute Tribunal ruling as urging the firing of the whistleblower who exposed rapes by French soldiers in the Central African Republic. Ladsous denied it - to Inner City Press - but the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights did not dispute it. Accountability?

 On May 10 "around 1 pm, the forces of MINUSMA on patrols hit a mine or an improvised explosive device 25 kilometers from Tenenkou, in the region of Mopti,” MISUMSA said in a statement.

  “Two blue helmets were seriously injured by the explosion and their evacuation to the MINUSMA hospital in Timbuktu was underway, MINUSMA said.

   “The head of MINUSMA Mongi Hamdi strongly the attack against the peacekeepers and emphasized that MINUSMA remains more determined than ever to implement its mandate in support of Mali and its people.”

 On May 8, the UN announced what the Press already knew, that Mbaranga Gasarabwe, a Rwandan national, is moving from the Department of Safety and Security in New York to become Hamdi's deputy in Mali. We wish her well.

Tellingly, Ladsous refused an invitation to attend a "protection of civilians" high level event in Rwanda in May, click here for that scoop.

 Back on April 27 the MINUSMA mission issued a statement that the Platforme group attacked the town of Manaka, loosely translated by Inner City Press below. But how does UN Peacekeeping killing civilians, then its boss refusing to answer or even take questions about it, impact the UN's credibility?

 Here is our loose translation of the MINUSMA press release of April 27:

SRSG Mongi Hamdi called for the armed groups to immediately cease hostilities and return to their positions. “This resurgence of tension puts in jeopardy all efforts to restore durable peace in Mali,” Hamdi said. MINUSMA said that on Monday near noon the mission learned of an attack launched by the MAA-Platform and GATIA groups on the town of Menaka, held by elements of the Coordination of Movement of Azawad (CMA). MINUSMA said it deployed helicopters to evaluate the situation.

Hamdi went to Nouakchott on April 26 to meet the representatives of the CMA, who reaffirmed their adherence to the peace process under way, and confirmed their intention to initial the agreement.

“Two months of intense negotiations involving all of the parties with a view to put an end to the Malian crisis could be threatened. These actions are a grave violation of the ceasefire accords reiterated in the declaration of February 19, 2105,” Hamdi said in his statement.

Hamdi also cited the UN Security Council's statement of February 6 which threatened the imposition of targeted sanctions on anyone who returned to hostilities and violated the ceasefire.

“I therefore appeal for calm and reason for the benefit of all Malians. The only solution to this crisis is through the route of dialogue. I remain convinced that all the parties will show wisdom and reason and sign this historic peace agreement,” Hamdi said.

  Here's what Inner City Press asked the UN about Darfur on April 27:

Inner City Press: on Darfur, I saw the clarification put out by UNAMID [African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur], but the Government of Sudan is saying that the UNAMID peacekeepers killed seven civilians, and I wonder, what… beyond just UNAMID putting out a press release, some of which in the past have been press releases that the UN has ultimately walked away from, is there an intention to do the type of report that was done in Mali when people were killed or in Haiti when people… when people were shot at?

Deputy Spokesman Frahan haq:  On that, I actually expect that we will have a statement from the Spokesman for the Secretary-General responding to the latest events in Darfur.  So, I'll wait until… until we get that.

Inner City Press:  But, is the protocol if a Member State alleges that UN peacekeepers have killed civilians to do such a report, or is there no such protocol?

Deputy Spokesman:  Like I said… first of all, I… as you know, you're aware of the press release from UNAMID, which is their clarification of the situation, and then beyond that, we do expect to have a statement attributable to the Spokesperson.

  But when the statement came it did not even mention the government's allegations. Khartoum's credibility may be low - but what about Ladsous'? We'll have more on this.

   

After ISIS Shown Killing Henning, Syrian Coalition's Hadi Al Bahra Talks Accountability, Vaccine Response in Question

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, October 3 -- After the Islamic State's most recent video, the Syrian National Coalition's Hadi al Bahra issued this statement:

"Words cannot describe the outrage I felt upon hearing news of the beheading of the British national, Alan Henning, by the devilish group ISIS. Our hearts go out to family of Henning and his loved ones at this difficult time. Taking the life of a dedicated aid worker, who helped save the lives of thousands of people suffering from Assad’s brutal tactics and its violent consequences, is the ultimate crime. This crime should not and will not go unpunished. It might take some time, but eventually ISIS’s faceless murderers will be brought to justice and they will pay the price for their barbarism."

   When Al Bahra belatedly held an open press conference at the UN on September 24, Inner City Press asked him about the deadly measles vaccination campaign undertaken in territory ostensibly controlled by the opposition.

  In response, Hadi al Bahra just like Ban Ki-moon's spokesman Stephane Dujarric called it only human error, “not correct labeling, having two types of medicine in the same cabinet.” That would be, muscle relaxer injected into children. Inner City Press asked, What does this portend? This is a test case.

 On October 3, Al Bahra's Syrian Coalition announced that five people have been "dismissed" - but is that full accountability for the killing of children, even if by gross negligence? The Syrian Coalition issued this statement:

"The Syrian Coalition dismissed five officials, including the interim Minister of Health Adnan Hazzori and head of the Assistance Coordination Unit (ACU) Suhair al-Atassi, after the committee charged with investigating the deaths of children in the measles vaccination campaign submitted the results to the president of the Syrian coalition and to members of the political committee. The investigative committee, headed by Nasr al-Hariri, visited the town of Jarzjanaz in rural Idlib where the deaths of children occurred and met with the health officials to further investigate the incident. The committee reviewed the results of the investigation and decided to dismiss the five officials under the political committee’s decision No. 7 dated September, 25, 26, 27, 2014. 

"Moreover, the Syrian Coalition dismissed the director of the Syrian National Vaccination Committee Dr. Mohammad Saad, director of the Medical Department in ACU Dr. Khaled Milaji and ACU’s Executive Director in Samer Darwish. A statement released by the Syrian Coalition holds Idlib Directorate of Health, staff and supervisors of the vaccination campaign responsible for the deaths and referred them to trial. The statement also included directing the blame to the president of the caretaker government Ahmad Tomeh, and its general secretariat for negligence in following up the work of the Ministry of Health. 

Blame for the incident was also laid on the Justice Minister in the caretaker government Fayez Daher for his failure to form a special court in Syria to investigate the incident. The Syrian Coalition re-extends its condolences to the families of the victims and reaffirms it will hold to account all those responsible for the death of children. The statement also said that the 'Syrian Coalition fully recognizes the size of the difficulties and the harsh conditions faced by workers in the medical field, most notably the shortage of the qualified medical staff and the lack of medicines and medical supplies as a result of the siege imposed by the Assad regime on the areas beyond its control. It is worth noting that the investigative committee, headed by Nasr al-Hariri, included Jawad Abu Hatab, head of the medical committee, Hisham al-Dairi, former director of the vaccination program in the Syrian Ministry of Health, Abdul Jalil al-Hariri, chairman of the Syrian Bar Association and Muhannad Abdul Qadir, secretary of the Syrian Coalition’s medical committee. The Commission was mandated to submit its final report and recommendations to the Syrian Coalition on September 25th. An investigative hearing session will be held for the head of the caretaker government and the interim Minister of Health on September 25th to discuss the results of the investigation."

   That's accountability? We'll continue to follow this.

Footnote: On September 24 the first two questions to Hadi al Bahra were from US state owned media, and France 24. Then later came RFI. This is part of why the Free UN Coalition for Access complained about Hadi al Bahra initially, and Ahmad Jarba throughout his tenure, only taking questions in these media's clubhouse of UNCA, the UN's Censorship Alliance. They only publicize the events to those who paid them money; the UNCA Executive Committee tried to get the investigative Press thrown out fo the UN. It is good that Hadi al Bahra, hosted by the UK, held an open briefing. But what about the answers? We'll have more on these.

   

As Syrian National Coalition's Hadi al Bahra Belatedly Holds Open Press Conference, Inner City Press Asks of Kurds & Vaccinations

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, September 24 -- When the Syrian National Coalition's Hadi al Bahra belatedly held an open press conference at the UN on September 24, Inner City Press asked him about the place of the Kurds of Rojava in the SNC, and about the deadly measles vaccination campaign undertaken in territory ostensibly controlled by the opposition.

  Hadi al Bahra said that Kurds “in the KNC” are in the Coalition, and claimed that they don't want their own territory, only federalism. “Kurds are in the coalition itself. Our vice president represents Kurdish National Council, they do not look for separate government or piece of land.” That might be some Kurds -- but not all. We'll have more on this.

  On the deadly “vaccination” campaign, Hadi al Bahra precisely like Ban Ki-moon's spokesman Stephane Dujarric called it only human error, “not correct labeling, having two types of medicine in the same cabinet.” That would be, muscle relaxes injected into children. What does this portend? This is a test case.

  Hadi al Bahra said that the US is in consultation with the SNC as it conducts airstrikes. Inner City Press understands that the US only told Syria's government once, the first time -- and did not tell Russia at all.

Footnote: The first two questions to Hadi al Bahra were from US state owned media, and France 24. Then later came RFI. This is part of why the Free UN Coalition for Access complained about Hadi al Bahra initially, and Ahmad Jarba throughout his tenure, only taking questions in these media's clubhouse of UNCA, the UN's Censorship Alliance. They only publicize the events to those who paid them money; the UNCA Executive Committee tried to get the investigative Press thrown out fo the UN. It is good that Hadi al Bahra, hosted by the UK, held an open briefing. But what about the answers? We'll have more on these.

   

In South Sudan As UN Insists No JEM Rebels in Pariang or Yida, VOA Quotes Just That, Amos on Militarization

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, January 2 -- In South Sudan on the situation in and around the Yida refugee camp, the UN continues to disagree with public reports including a quote from a UN aid worker that Sudan rebels from the the Justice & Equality Movement are there. 

But the UN has not, it appears, sought any modification from Voice of America, a US state media (which in 2012 tried to get Inner City Press thrown out of the UN, click here for that.)

Inner City Press has twice asked the UN about reports of JEM in Pariang; both times, the UN has insisted that its Mission in South Sudan, UNMISS, knows nothing about it.

On January 2, Inner City Press asked UN Humanitarian chief Valerie Amos about a quote in Voice of America: "An aid worker in Yida refugee camp in Unity state, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he had seen JEM rebels with armored vehicles, weapons and ammunition passing through the refugee camp on their way to Pariang on Friday."

Amos replied that she didn't know about that specific quote, but she hearkened back to UNHCR's warnings that Yida camp was too close to the border and could be militarized.Video here, from Minute 33:55. There have been numerous reports of JEM in Yida.

After Amos' response, UN acting deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq cut in to again say that UNMISS had no information about JEM in Yida or Pariang. Video here from Minute 36:51. Thou doth protest too much?

Inner City Press also asked Amos about humanitarian access in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states in Sudan. She replied, "We have ongoing discussions in Sudan with the government and also try talk with SPLM-North about cross-line access. With respect to vaccination, we try." 

 Recently, Amos continued, "Sudan says there are some further areas we would be able to access, the changing lines you yourself mentioned, we have to press, particularly the SPLM-North, to gain access... We have been able to access some of the government controlled areas." Video here, from Minute 17:37. Watch this site.

   

Amid Bombs in Southern Kordofan, UN Refuses to Report, Polio Vaccination Banned: Rights Up Front?

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, November 20 -- Amid reports of bombings in South Kordofan, with the government bombing areas held by the SPLM-North rebels, and this group shelling regional capital Kadugli, Inner City Press on Wednesday asked UN spokesperson Farhan Haq what the UN can say about this, including in light of its announced polio vaccination plans.

  Haq said the UN has no presence in Southern Kordofan.

  Inner City Press pointed out, as it has before, that UN Peacekeeping's Abyei mission UNISFA has an office in Kadugli. There is also presumably a wider UN presence, given the statement that the UN stands ready to vaccinate throughout Southern Kordofan.

  But Haq insisted that since the UN Peacekeeping office in Kadugli is part of UNISFA whose area of action is in neighboring Abyei, the UN cannot or will not speak about bombings in Southern Kordofan.

  But Secretary General Ban Ki-moon recently described to the General Assembly his new "Rights Up Front" plan, meant to address the failures shown by UN inaction in Sri Lanka in 2009 when 40,000 civilians were killed. It claims the UN will from now on proactively look out for abuses and report them.

So why not in Southern Kordofan? What does "Rights Up Front" mean?

Later on Wednesday, Haq's office sent a response not from UN Peacekeeping, whose chief Herve Ladsous has been allowed to refuse all Press questions (video here, UK coverage here), but rather from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs:

Subject: Your question on South Kordofan
From: UN Spokesperson - Do Not Reply [at] un.org
Date: Wed, Nov 20, 2013 at 3:30 PM
To: Matthew.Lee [at] innercitypress.com

Regarding your question at today’s Noon briefing, we have the following from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs:

“The UN remains deeply concerned that the polio vaccination campaign has still not gone ahead in SPLM-N areas of South Kordofan and Blue Nile. Cessation of hostilities is essential before the vaccination campaign can go ahead. The UN continues to call on the parties to cease hostilities and agree on outstanding logistical issues to allow this purely humanitarian initiative to go ahead.

The UN stands ready to implement the vaccination campaign at short notice as soon as the parties agree to a cessation of hostilities, provide security assurances and resolve outstanding logistical questions.”

  It will be hard to get "security assurances" amid government bombing, and rebel shelling of Kadugli -- especially if the UN refuses to look at or report on these, despite Ban's supposed "Rights Up Front" plan. Watch this site.

   

In Philippines, UN Won't Work With Parties to Conflict - DRC, AU Contradiction?

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, November 15 -- In responding in the Philippines to the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan, the UN according to its humanitarian operations chief John Ging has accepted help from the militaries of the US, Malaysia, UK, Israel, Australia, Japan and Sweden.

  Inner City Press asked Ging about concerns he has elsewhere acknowledged about the blurring of lines between humanitarian and military action. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, for example, UN Peacekeeping has become a party to armed conflict but still blends in with aid work.

  Ging said the rule is to not work with a party to a conflict, under the Oslo Principles being applied in the Philippines. But what about the DRC, where now supposedly UN Peacekeeping will be going after the FDLR militia?

  Inner City Press asked Ging about the following online paragraph: "The U.S. Marines were reportedly instructed not to let Philippine government officials and politicians touch the relief goods that will arrive in Samar. Five C130 panes are scheduled to arrive, carrying relief goods from the United Nations."

  Ging said not to read too much into that; his co-panelist, UNICEF's Ted Chaiban, added that the Philippines has been working well with the UN.

  More was said in the briefing, but the UN insisted on beginning in even as three African Union Permanent Representatives spoke at the Security Council stakeout. Back in September, the UN delayed the noon briefing while the prime minister of Israel spoke, then started it during Iran's right of reply.

  When Inner City Press asked why, the spokesperson said that all journalists who cover hard news understood why this was done. But why talk-over the African Union ambassadors, while saying later in the briefing how much the UN values Africa?

  (There also seemed to be surprise, not from Ging, when Inner City Press asked for an update on getting polio vaccines into Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile. Ging said Sudan has shown flexibility, agreeing to a meeting even the UN said was unnecessary.)

It was the Free UN Coalition for Access which asked that Friday's noon briefing be delayed. UNCA's Pamela Falk of CBS, rather than protest, rushed in to thank Ging (and use the name of UNCA). Inner City Press did not say FUNCA, but said the two events should have been coordinated. We will continue to push on this. Watch this site.

   

At UN, Gates Foundation Belated Reply on Vaccination Sickening 38 Chadian Kids Is Memo From Chad's Health Minister, Questions Remain

By Matthew Russell Lee

 

UNITED NATIONS, March 2 – The UN is often said to be too close to governments, for example quietly with that of Sri Lanka as 40,000 civilians were killed in 2009.

   But the same may be said, at least in Chad, of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which the UN invited in to speak to the press on February 27.

   Inner City Press asked a question about Chad, in response to which the Gate Foundation on the evening of March 1 replied with... a report from Chad's Ministry of Health. 

  But they may be part of the problem. They diagnose their own citizens as suffering from "collective hysteria and obsessive behavior." (See below.)

   Earlier this year, following an investigation into 38 Chadian children harmed by a meningitis vaccination campaign done wrong, questions were raised about the Gates Foundation and Chad's Ministry of Health that were, at that time, not answered.

  Chad's Health Minister Mamouth Nahor NGawara said only that “during the last phase of the vaccination campaign organized at Gouro on December 11 to 15, 2012, unusual reactions were noted.”

  The Gates question was raised: “What part does the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) play within the campaign? Who is responsible for administering the funds provided by the BMGF?”

  With no answered, when the UN Department of Public Information sent out invitations to a February 27 briefing by Dr. Chris Elias, President of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundations’ Global Development Program, Inner City Press signed up.

 

A number of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation staffers including Michal Fishman and Steve Landry accompanied Chris Elias, who spoke for example about an upcoming event in the United Arab Emirates which he said Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will attend, to praise donations from the UAE.

 

When UN Department of Public Information official Stephane Dujarric called on Inner City Press to ask a question at this on the record briefing, Inner City Press asked about the vaccination problems in Chad.

  BMGF's Dr. Elias replied that he was aware of the meningitis vaccination campaign in Chad (and twenty other countries in the Meningitis Belt), but said he was not aware of this case. Video here.

  Off camera a staffer said he was aware, that some “government” action led to illness and promised to send more information to Inner City Press, which gave the staffer all the contact information: cell phone number and e-mail address.

  Five hours later, no information has been provided. From Mr. Dujarric came a letter complaining about Inner City Press' reporting - click here for more on that. As Inner City Press noted at the time, these questions should be answered. This is called reporting.

  After an article on this, and more, at 9:40 pm on the evening of Friday, March 1 came a response from Michal Fishman of the Gates Foundation, forwarding an e-mail from Steve Landry consisting entirely of a statement by the same Chadian Health Minister Mamouth Nahor NGawara:

 

The independent international experts in charge of the in-depth investigation into the unusual reactions recorded during the vaccination campaign against meningitis between [11 and 15 Dec 2012] at Gouro (West-Ennedi) presented their preliminary findings on Friday [18 Jan 2013] at SEM. Their investigation was based on 4 axes:

 

- Analysis of available documents;

 

- Analysis of the organization of the vaccination campaign and vaccine quality;

 

- Interviews of the different parties involved;

 

- Medical examination of the 36 cases in the 2 hospitals in N'Djamena.

 

As a result from the different analyses, discussions among the team, and after meetings or contacting those implicated (or not implicated), in the event, the experts have come to the preliminary conclusions below:

 

Expert Findings:

 

The vaccination campaign organized in Gouro was conducted under normal conditions by staff who are experienced in implementing mass campaigns and routine vaccination programs.

 

The conditions of hospitalization, in particular the medical care at the psychological level, and the dialogue between the community and the health staff were insufficient.

 

The crises are triggered by noise, visits by foreigners, and the occurrence of crises among other patients.

 

Apart from these agitated periods, the children lead normal lives.

 

The patients are aged between 8 and 25 years, and with 77 percent of them being girls, i.e. 27 out of a total of 35.

 

A child that had not been vaccinated complains of similar symptoms.

 

All the different medical examinations performed on the patients were normal. The neurological examination on patients at the request of the experts also concluded that all was normal.

 

The same MenAfriVac vaccine lot 127M1033, used in Gouro, was used in the entire Ennedi region.

 

The expert reports from WHO on the vaccine lot at the level of the manufacturer Serum Institute of India (SII) showed no manufacturing defect.

 

The MenAfriVac vaccine, prequalified by WHO in 2010, has been subjected to all the required tests before being used. To date, more than 100 million people have been vaccinated in 10 countries (Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Cameroon, Nigeria, Ghana, Sudan, Senegal, Chad, and Benin). The vaccine will be further introduced in 16 African countries. Since the introduction of the vaccine, no case of meningitis "A" has been recorded in vaccinated individuals.

Expert Recommendations:

 

- Ensure the progressive but rapid return of the children to their families and a medical follow-up;

 

- Maintain a dialogue with the families and vaccination stakeholders and partners.

 

- Reinforce the medical structure at the local level through the addition of a doctor and a qualified nurse for a better health follow up in the populations and routine immunization activities.

 

- Reinforce the ability of the health staff in crisis communicationand the management of rumors.

The experts wish to specifically state that analysis of the epidemiological, medical, clinical, and diagnostic tests data has not been able to establish a causal link between the clinical manifestations observed in the patients and the MenAfriVac vaccine.

 

The symptoms observed in patients are similar to those described in the literature under several names:

- Collective hysteria

- Collective obsessive behavior

- Mass psychogenic phenomenon

 

The independent experts thank the population and the authorities in Chad for their confidence. 

They request that the authorities be diligent in the implementation of the recommendations that will facilitate a return to a peaceful situation that will be to the benefit of the vaccination programs.

 

The full preliminary report has been submitted to the governmental authorities and will be finalized by the Health Service in Tunisia, where 7 of the 35 patients from N'Djamena were evacuated.

 

The Ministry of Public Health has worked in collaboration with the experts whilst guaranteeing the complete independence of the investigation. The Ministry welcomes the experts' conclusions in reassuring the patients, their families, and the general public of the health status of the evacuated patients from Gouro, the quality of the MenAfriVac vaccine, and the overall importance of vaccination.

 

N'Djamena, 21 Jan 2013
The Minister of Public Health
Dr Mamouth Nahor N'Gawara

  So Chad's Health Ministry diagnose these Chadian children as suffering from "collective hysteria and obsessive behavior."

  Here's what should be answered, including by the UN World Health Program to whose Michel Jose Zaffran the Gates Foundation's Steve Landry forwarded the Chadian government statement which would become the only answer so far to Inner City Press:

 

To the UN/WHO and the Government of Chad

Why they have taken the sick children back to Faya where there are no medical facilities or equipment?

Why have they not listened to the parents and in the first place vaccinated these children without the consent of the parents and by force in an area far outside the Meningitis Belt.

To BMGF & UN/WHO

Why have they ignored reports that many of these children are still suffering from seizures and why no independent medical team was called in to provide true medical help to these children?

Why are they not providing them with clean water and good quality food and giving them access to good long term medical care?

  Watch this site.

Footnote: Recently UN DPI has set up on the record "brown bag" sessions with, for example, the UN's expert on the prevention of genocide (about Syria), the now gone head of UN Security, a UNHCR official (about Syria, all on the record and helpful.)

 
  The February 27 session felt different, perhaps because a non-UN entity flush with cash was allowed, essentially, to advertise. On February 22, UNCA (a/k/a the UN's Censorship Alliance) similarly ran a "press conference" which devolved into an advertisement for the German car company BMW. There, questions about environmental impact were referred to BMW. Will these questions be answered? Watch this site.