UN Vaccinates Over 560,000 Children in Gaza Amid Health Crisis
United Nations: The United Nations, in collaboration with its partners, has successfully vaccinated more than 560,000 children under the age of 10 against polio in the Gaza Strip, according to UN humanitarian officials. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported the completion of the first round of this emergency vaccination campaign in Gaza’s northern, central, and southern zones on Thursday.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) noted that the final phase of the first round in northern Gaza reached over 112,000 children in a span of three days. The second round of the vaccination campaign is scheduled to commence in about four weeks.
In addition to the vaccination efforts, a recent WHO analysis revealed that as of July 23, approximately 22,500 individuals in Gaza have sustained life-changing injuries that will require long-term rehabilitation services. These injuries account for a quarter of the total reported injuries during that period.
OCHA highlighted the dire state of Gaza’s health system, with only 17 out of 36 hospitals partially operational. Primary health care services are frequently disrupted due to attacks, insecurity, and evacuation orders. The report on the health crisis comes against the backdrop of ongoing conflict, with recent operations by Israeli forces in Tulkarm and Tubas in the West Bank causing significant displacement and damage.
The latest two-day operation by Israeli troops concluded on Thursday, resulting in nearly a dozen Palestinian fatalities and displacement of numerous families whose homes were damaged. OCHA expressed concern over the use of “lethal war-like tactics” during these operations, raising questions about the adherence to law enforcement standards.
