RAMALLAH, Palestine – The Gaza Health Ministry announced late Monday that nearly 159,000 children in the central area of the Gaza Strip have received polio vaccinations as part of a critical immunization campaign. The campaign comes amid the dire conditions faced by residents due to the ongoing Israeli military actions in the region.
In a statement, the Health Ministry reported that “medical teams were able to vaccinate 158,992 children within two days of the start of the polio vaccination campaign in Gaza.” The Ministry also noted a significant increase in citizen participation on the second day of the campaign, which was particularly focused on Gaza’s central area.
The vaccination campaign, which is being carried out in challenging circumstances, is particularly urgent following the confirmation of Gaza’s first polio case in 25 years. Last month, a 10-month-old child was diagnosed with the disease, highlighting the pressing need for widespread immunization.
Medical teams working at vaccination centers in Deir al-Balah observed signs of fatigue and malnutrition in hundreds of the children who received the vaccine, a reflection of the harsh conditions the population has been enduring during nearly 11 months of continuous conflict. These conditions have exacerbated the vulnerabilities of the youngest residents, making the vaccination effort even more critical.
The campaign is taking place against the backdrop of Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza, which have resulted in over 40,700 Palestinian deaths and more than 94,000 injuries since the conflict intensified on October 7 of last year. The relentless violence has severely impacted the region’s healthcare infrastructure, complicating efforts to protect public health.
On August 16, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a seven-day humanitarian cease-fire to facilitate the vaccination of 640,000 children across Gaza, a plea that was echoed by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). However, despite international support for the cease-fire, the campaign is moving forward under extremely difficult and dangerous conditions.
This polio vaccination initiative represents a vital effort to protect the health of Gaza’s children, who are facing not only the immediate dangers of conflict but also the long-term risks associated with diseases that could otherwise be prevented through immunization. The success of the campaign, despite the ongoing violence, underscores the resilience and determination of Gaza’s healthcare workers and the communities they serve.–News Desk