POLIO IN SYRIA

Early day motion 660, tabled 31 October 2013 by Jim Dobbin (Labour). Signed by 15 members.

That this House is concerned about the occurrence of polio in Syria following confirmation from the World Health Organisation (WHO) that the disease has been identified in the country for the first time in 14 years; is further concerned that the main impact of the disease is being borne by children, who are particularly susceptible to paralytic polio, the most serious form of the disease, and that the WHO regards the risk of further infection as high; notes that the disease is entirely preventable with vaccination and that before the civil war, 95 per cent of children in Syria were vaccinated, and that the UN now estimates that over 500,000 children are currently unvaccinated and at risk; and calls on the Government to do all it can to support aid and delivery organisations operating in Syria to vaccinate all those affected, especially vulnerable children, and to support international efforts to prevent further outbreaks.

Signatures by party: Labour 10, Liberal Democrat 3, Conservative 1, DUP 1.