UN Launches Second Round of Polio Vaccination Campaign in Gaza Amid Ongoing Crisis
United Nations: The second round of the polio vaccination campaign has commenced in the central region of the Gaza Strip, according to UN humanitarian officials. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) announced on Monday that the campaign, led by the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), aims to vaccinate approximately 590,000 children under the age of 10 with a second dose of the novel oral polio vaccine.
To ensure the successful vaccination of as many children as possible, OCHA emphasized the necessity for all parties involved to respect local humanitarian pauses. This campaign follows the first round, which was conducted from September 1 to 12, successfully reaching over 559,000 children.
The second round will again be structured in three phases, with each phase consisting of three campaign days followed by a catch-up day for those who may have missed vaccination.
The vaccination efforts come amidst a backdrop of escalating violence in Gaza. In response to a recent Israeli airstrike that targeted tents sheltering displaced individuals near Al Aqsa Hospital, UN Acting Under-Secretary-General Joyce Msuya expressed deep concern over the ongoing humanitarian crisis. She remarked that the “horrors Palestinians are forced to endure seem to have no end,” highlighting the urgent need for the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure.
Reports from the recent airstrike indicated that several individuals were burned to death, with numerous others, including women and children, suffering severe burns. This incident followed another attack earlier that day on a school-turned-shelter in Nuseirat, resulting in the deaths of more than 20 people and injuring many others.
As the situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, the UN remains focused on both addressing immediate health needs and advocating for the safety and dignity of civilians caught in the conflict.
