Gaza Begins Polio Vaccination Amid Conflict, Humanitarian Pauses Agreed

Aug 30, 2024, 08:52 AM

The Gaza Strip is set to begin a polio vaccination campaign on September 1, following the first confirmed case of polio in the region in 25 years, affecting 10-month-old Abdul Rahman Abu al-Jidyan. The World Health Organization (WHO), alongside UN agencies and local health authorities, plans to vaccinate over 640,000 children under the age of 10. The campaign will be conducted in two rounds, with an aim to achieve at least 90% coverage in both. To facilitate the vaccination efforts, the Israeli military has agreed to implement humanitarian pauses in the ongoing conflict, allowing health workers to safely administer the vaccines. These pauses will occur in three zones, each lasting three days, with a possible fourth day if needed. The European Union has called for an immediate ceasefire to ensure the success of the vaccination campaign. The WHO has secured 1.26 million doses of vaccines from Indonesia. Hamas has expressed readiness to cooperate with international organizations for the vaccination initiative. The polio outbreak has heightened concerns about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza, exacerbated by ongoing conflict and poor sanitary conditions.