A critical polio vaccination campaign has begun in Gaza amid ongoing Israeli attacks and a deteriorating humanitarian crisis. The campaign, which started on August 31, 2024, aims to vaccinate approximately 640,000 Palestinian children under the age of 10 against polio. This urgent initiative follows the discovery of the first polio case in Gaza in 25 years, involving a 10-month-old child who is now partially paralyzed.The World Health Organization (WHO) announced that Israel has agreed to a series of ‘humanitarian pauses’ to facilitate the vaccination effort. However, Palestinian health officials, including Deputy Health Minister Yousef Abu Al-Reesh, stress that a comprehensive ceasefire is necessary for the campaign to succeed. ‘If the international community truly wants this campaign to succeed, it should call for a ceasefire, knowing that this virus does not stop, and can reach anywhere,’ Abu Al-Reesh stated.The vaccination drive faces significant challenges in Gaza, which has been devastated by nearly 11 months of war. WHO officials emphasize that at least 90% of children need to be vaccinated twice, with a four-week interval between doses, for the campaign to be effective. The campaign is scheduled to take place in four stages from August 31 to September 12, 2024.Despite the planned pauses, Israeli strikes continue to cause casualties in Gaza. On August 31 alone, at least 48 people were killed in Israeli attacks. The ongoing conflict has resulted in at least 40,691 Palestinians killed and 94,060 injured since October 7, 2023, according to Gaza’s health ministry.The international community, including the United Nations and various health organizations, has called for a lasting ceasefire to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. As Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO, stated, ‘Humanitarian pauses are welcome, but ultimately, the only solution to this crisis is a lasting ceasefire and a full withdrawal from the territory’.
Key points
- A polio vaccination campaign targeting 640,000 children has begun in Gaza following the first case in 25 years.
- Israel has agreed to ‘humanitarian pauses’ to facilitate vaccinations, but Palestinian officials stress the need for a complete ceasefire.
- The ongoing conflict continues to cause casualties, with at least 48 people killed in Gaza on August 31, 2024.
- The total death toll in Gaza since October 7, 2023, has reached 40,691, according to the health ministry.
Contradictions👾While Israel has agreed to ‘humanitarian pauses’ for vaccinations, Palestinian officials claim that only a full ceasefire would ensure the campaign’s success.
👾The exact number of children to be vaccinated varies slightly between sources, with most citing 640,000 and one source mentioning 650,000.
