Jordanian authorities announced on Tuesday, August 20, 2024, a new requirement for Yemeni children entering the country. Children aged 15 and under must now present a certificate proving they have received three doses of the polio vaccine.

The Yemeni embassy in Jordan, in a statement published on its X account, monitored by "Barran Press",  clarified that this requirement applies to all Yemeni citizens wishing to travel to Jordan. The polio vaccination certificates must be issued and certified by local authorities or international organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF.

The implementation of this new rule will begin on Monday, August 26.

The embassy expressed hope that Yemeni citizens intending to travel to Jordan will adhere to the Jordanian Ministry of Health's directive to avoid any complications at the airport.

Yemen has witnessed a widespread outbreak of polio, particularly since the Houthi group, listed as a terrorist organization, has been preventing polio vaccination campaigns in areas under its control.

On July 27, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) reported 32 new cases of polio in Yemen since the beginning of the year.

According to the GPEI's weekly report on circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus, most of the cases were recorded in areas under the control of the Houthi group, which has been blocking vaccination campaigns against the virus.

The report stated that 32 new cases of poliovirus were reported in Yemen since the beginning of the year.

It highlighted that during the past week, 11 new cases of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) were reported in Yemen, with 4 cases in Hodeidah, 4 in Amran, and one case each in Al Bayda, Taiz, and Dhamar.

Earlier this month, UNICEF announced that the number of cVDPV2 cases in Yemen had risen to 257 since 2021.