A Palestinian child is vaccinated against polio during the second round of a vaccination campaign, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, on October 14, 2024. File photo Photo Courtesy: Ramzan Abed
The World Health Organization said on Tuesday, October 15, 2024 that it was able to launch its polio campaign in central Gaza and vaccinate thousands of children in the designated protected area despite Israeli attacks hours earlier.
Humanitarian blockades in the year-long Gaza war were set to begin on Monday morning to reach hundreds of thousands of children, as part of a deal between Israeli forces and Palestinian militant group Hamas.
However, hours before that, the UN humanitarian office said Israeli forces attacked tents near Al Aqsa hospital inside the area, where it said four people were burned to death.
The United Nations Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA said one of its schools in the central Gaza city of Nussirat, intended as a vaccination site, was attacked on the night of Sunday and Monday, killing 22 people.
More than 92,000 children, or about half of those targeted for polio vaccination in the central region, had been vaccinated on Monday, WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic told a Geneva press briefing.
“What we have heard from colleagues is that vaccinations went without any major problems yesterday and we hope it will continue that way,” he said.
Other humanitarian agencies have previously expressed concerns about the feasibility of a polio campaign in northern Gaza, where the Israeli offensive is ongoing.
support group to be done An initial round of vaccinations began last month, after a child was partially paralyzed by the type 2 polio virus in August. first case of its kind In the field over 25 years.
published – October 16, 2024 04:37 PM IST