Health teams in Gaza are facing unprecedented challenges as they work tirelessly to provide crucial polio vaccines to children in the war-torn region. The northern Gaza polio vaccine campaign kicked off on Saturday and is set to run until Monday, with UN agencies and partners working diligently to ensure the safety of civilians and aid workers during humanitarian pauses in the conflict.
The primary objective of the campaign is to administer the final dose of the polio vaccine to over 100,000 children in order to prevent the spread of the paralyzing virus within Gaza and the surrounding region. Despite being eradicated 25 years ago, polio made a resurgence earlier this year due to the deteriorating health conditions and services in Gaza as a result of the ongoing war.
Over the weekend, amidst numerous operational and security challenges, more than 58,600 children received their second polio vaccine dose on Saturday, as reported by the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) operating in Israeli-occupied Gaza. However, the challenges persisted on Sunday as the death toll from the year-long war in Gaza continued to rise, surpassing 43,000 people since the deadly Hamas-led attacks on Israel in October 2023.
UNICEF chief Catherine Russell expressed grave concern over the situation, particularly highlighting the recent attacks in north Gaza that resulted in the deaths of over 50 children in Jabalia. Residential buildings housing hundreds of people were leveled by strikes, and even a polio vaccine center in northern Gaza was hit, injuring six individuals, including four children.
In a statement issued late Saturday, Ms. Russell also mentioned an incident where the personal vehicle of a UNICEF staff member working on the polio vaccination campaign was targeted by what is believed to be a quadcopter while passing through Jabalia-Elnazla. The vehicle sustained damage, but fortunately, the staff member escaped unharmed.
Ms. Russell called for an immediate investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attack on the UNICEF staff member, urging Israel to take action against those responsible. She also appealed to Member States to intervene and ensure compliance with international law, particularly in safeguarding the rights and protection of children in conflict zones. She emphasized the urgent need to end the ongoing war in Gaza to prevent further loss of innocent lives.
Meanwhile, the head of the UN agency for Palestine refugees, UNRWA, lamented the fact that children in Gaza are now facing a second year without access to education due to the devastating war. UNRWA serves 5.9 million Palestine refugees across Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria, but its critical operations are at risk of being halted by Israel.
The Israeli parliament recently passed two laws that could potentially terminate UNRWA’s essential services in Palestinian territories occupied by Israel, including Gaza and the West Bank. This move poses a significant threat to the well-being and livelihood of millions of Palestinian refugees who rely on UNRWA for education, healthcare, and humanitarian assistance.
The escalating violence and humanitarian crisis in Gaza have drawn widespread condemnation from the international community, with calls for an immediate ceasefire and lasting peace in the region. The targeting of health teams and aid workers in Gaza is a clear violation of international humanitarian law, and the perpetrators must be held accountable for their actions.
As the conflict in Gaza shows no signs of abating, the need for urgent intervention and diplomatic efforts to broker a lasting peace agreement becomes more pressing than ever. The lives and well-being of innocent civilians, particularly children, are at stake, and the international community must act swiftly to end the senseless violence and suffering in Gaza.
