CONSTANTINOPLE:
UN agencies and their partners have urgently called for a humanitarian pause in the war in Gaza to ensure more than 640,000 children can receive polio vaccines.
The request underscores the urgent need for an immediate cessation of hostilities to prevent the spread of the disease among vulnerable populations in the region.
According to a statement by the UN agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA), the agencies are ready to administer the vaccines, but the deteriorating security situation requires a temporary ceasefire for humanitarian reasons.
Agencies warn that delaying the vaccination campaign could significantly increase the risk of a polio outbreak among children.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in coordination with the World Health Organization (WHO), UNRWA and other partners, has already delivered 1.2 million doses of polio vaccine type 2 to Gaza.
They plan to vaccinate more than 640,000 children in the region. The critical vaccine shipment was supported by Qatar Charity, which donated $3 million to aid UNRWA’s efforts in Gaza.
Sam Rose, UNRWA’s senior deputy field director, highlighted the difficult conditions in Gaza, where displaced families and frequent movements due to Israeli evacuation orders have created an environment conducive to the spread of the polio virus.
He stressed that the lack of access to basic necessities such as food, water and healthcare is exacerbating the situation, making the rapid spread of the virus a real threat.
The situation in Gaza is further complicated by reports of the first case of polio in the region in 25 years on 16 August.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health expressed concerns that this could indicate the presence of numerous undetected cases. The discovery of this case of polio is compounded by ongoing issues such as poor sanitation and access to water.
UN officials have expressed deep concern over the health crisis unfolding in Gaza, especially after the Israel-Hamas war broke out on October 7 last year. Since then, around 50,000 babies have been born in Gaza, many of whom have not had any vaccinations due to the ongoing crisis.
The UN and its partners are now calling on the international community to pressure Israel to allow the safe passage of polio vaccines into Gaza, stressing that without immediate action, the health of hundreds of thousands of children hangs in the balance.
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