lsreal-Palestine: Polio Vaccination Push - WHO Defies Odds in Gaza

Polio Vaccination in Gaza Despite Ongoing Conflict

“What we have received from colleagues is that the vaccination went without a major issue yesterday...”

WHO's polio vaccination campaign in Gaza faces challenges amid Israeli offensive. Over 92,000 children inoculated, but concerns rise for northern Gaza.

 

The World Health Organization (WHO) has made a significant breakthrough in its polio vaccination campaign in central Gaza, Palestine, despite the challenging circumstances. On October 15, the WHO announced that it had successfully vaccinated tens of thousands of children, a remarkable achievement considering the Israeli airstrikes in the protected zone earlier that day.

The vaccination campaign was made possible by humanitarian pauses agreed upon by the Israeli military and Hamas. These pauses were scheduled to begin on October 14, aiming to facilitate the vaccination of hundreds of thousands of children. Unfortunately, hours before the campaign commenced, the United Nations humanitarian office reported a tragic incident where Israeli forces struck tents near al Aqsa hospital in Palestine, resulting in four fatalities. The hospital is located within the protected zone, emphasizing the urgency and complexity of the situation.

Developments:

WHO's Polio Vaccination Campaign: Successfully vaccinated tens of thousands of children in central Gaza despite airstrikes.

Humanitarian Pauses: Agreement between Israeli military and Hamas to facilitate vaccination of hundreds of thousands of children.

UN Report: Israeli forces struck tents near al Aqsa hospital, causing four deaths.

Tragic events unfolded in Gaza overnight between October 13 and 14, as an UNRWA school in Nuseirat, designated as a vaccination site, was hit, resulting in the loss of up to 22 lives.

Despite this devastating incident, the World Health Organization (WHO) made significant progress in its polio vaccination campaign. According to WHO spokesperson Tarik Jašarević, over 92,000 children - approximately half of those targeted in the central region of Gaza, Palestine - received polio vaccinations on October 14.

Additional Developments:

UNRWA School Hit: Nuseirat school, designated as a vaccination site, was struck, killing up to 22 individuals.

Polio Vaccination Progress: Over 92,000 children inoculated in central Gaza on October 14.

Humanitarian Efforts: WHO and UNRWA continue to provide essential services amidst the conflict.

“What we have received from colleagues is that the vaccination went without a major issue yesterday and we hope it will continue the same way,” he said.

Concerns mount over the viability of the polio vaccination campaign in northern Gaza, as humanitarian organizations face significant challenges amidst the ongoing Israeli offensive.

The urgency of the campaign was underscored by a devastating outbreak in August, when a baby contracted type 2 polio, resulting in partial paralysis - the first reported case in the region in 25 years. In response, aid groups swiftly initiated an initial round of vaccinations last month.

Pointers:

• Humanitarian organizations express concerns about polio campaign feasibility in northern Gaza
• Ongoing Israeli offensive complicates vaccination efforts
• Initial vaccinations conducted last month following August's polio outbreak
• First type 2 polio case in 25 years reported in August, resulting in partial paralysis of a baby.