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Why is December 9 an Important Day to Remember?
Troops Land on December 9 for Operation Restore Hope
Operation Restore Hope was a military intervention led by the United States in Somalia in 1992. It aimed to provide humanitarian aid to the local population affected by famine and civil war. The operation involved the deployment of thousands of American and international troops to Somalia, with the goal of securing the delivery of food and other aid supplies to the affected areas. The operation was initially seen as a success, as food and aid were successfully delivered to the Somali people, but the mission soon became more complex as the U.S. military became involved in the ongoing civil conflict in the country. The operation eventually ended in 1994, following the infamous “Black Hawk Down” incident, in which 18 American soldiers were killed in the streets of Mogadishu.
The Certified Eradication of Smallpox on December 9
The eradication of smallpox was a major public health achievement that occurred in 1979. Smallpox is a highly contagious and sometimes fatal disease caused by the variola virus. The eradication campaign was led by the World Health Organization (WHO), which coordinated a global effort to vaccinate people against the virus and contain its spread. The vaccination effort was complemented by a program of surveillance and containment, which involved monitoring and reporting cases of smallpox, isolating infected individuals, and identifying and vaccinating their close contacts.
Over time, the incidence of smallpox declined, and the disease was declared eradicated in 1979, after the last known natural case was reported in Somalia. This marked the first time in human history that a disease had been eradicated by human effort. The eradication of smallpox is widely considered one of the greatest public health achievements of the 20th century, and serves as an example of the potential for global cooperation to address public health challenges.
