Official announcements from the United Nations or World Health Organization

WHO and UN Urge Gaza Ceasefire to Vaccinate 640,000 Children Against Polio

Aug 16, 2024, 07:31 PM

The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, supported by the United Nations, are calling for a seven-day humanitarian pause in Gaza to conduct a polio vaccination campaign. This initiative aims to vaccinate over 640,000 children in response to the detection of polio in the region's wastewater and the first confirmed case in a 10-month-old child in Deir al-Balah. The UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, emphasized the urgent need for a ceasefire to facilitate the vaccination process. Hamas has expressed support for the UN's request. The campaign is critical as Gaza has not reported polio cases for 25 years, and the ongoing conflict has hindered healthcare access. The UN is preparing 1.6 million doses of the vaccine for distribution.