The UN-supported polio vaccination campaign in besieged northern Gaza came to a close on Monday, having successfully inoculated 94,000 children. However, many thousands of children still remain unreachable due to the ongoing conflict and displacement.
Richard Peeperkorn from the World Health Organisation (WHO) in the Occupied Palestinian Territory stated that the goal was to administer the second and final dose to all children in the northern region. Despite covering more children than anticipated, he acknowledged that some were missed, particularly due to recent evacuation orders that have displaced many families.
The combination of a year-long war, prolonged sieges, and continuous displacement orders from Israel has created significant delays and challenges for the vaccination effort. These factors have hindered access to children who need the vaccine.
According to the UN agency for Palestine refugees, UNRWA, 79% of children in the northern Gaza Strip are now fully vaccinated against polio. This achievement underscores the importance of humanitarian pauses in facilitating critical health campaigns.
UNRWA emphasized on social media that without a lasting ceasefire, children will continue to suffer and die. The agency highlighted the urgent need for a stable environment to ensure the safety and health of the population.
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Top UN officials expressed deep concern over violent incidents reported at vaccination sites, where parents, children, and aid workers gathered. These incidents have raised alarms about the safety of those involved in the vaccination campaign.
WHO’s chief, Tedros Ghebreyesus, voiced serious concerns over reports of attacks on health centers over the weekend. Such violence poses a significant threat to public health efforts in the region.
Catherine Russell, the head of UNICEF, released a statement stressing the necessity of stopping attacks on civilians, including humanitarian workers and the remaining civilian infrastructure in Gaza. She called for immediate action to protect these vulnerable populations.
Russell also pointed out the alarming levels of child fatalities in northern Gaza due to other attacks, indicating that these recent events contribute to a tragic chapter in an already devastating war.
She warned that the entire Palestinian population in northern Gaza, particularly children, faces an imminent risk of death from disease, famine, and ongoing bombardments. The situation remains dire, highlighting the urgent need for international attention and intervention.
