UN Agency To Launch Polio Vaccination In Gaza

PHOTOS VIA UN/DOCUMENTATION

JAKARTA - The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) announced plans to start a polio vaccination campaign in the Gaza Strip by the end of August.

UNRWA Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini expressed deep concern over the latest statement from the World Health Organization (WHO) regarding the polio case in Gaza.

The case involved a 10-month-old baby who was paralyzed and marked the first polio case in Gaza in more than 25 years, according to Lazzarini.

"Polio will not differentiate between Palestinian children and Israel. Postponing the humanitarian break will increase the risk of spread among children," he said as quoted by ANTARA from Anadolu, Friday, August 23.

"It's not enough just to bring the vaccine to Gaza plus by protecting the cooling equipment. To have an impact, the vaccine must be given to every child under the age of 10," said Lazzarini.

The UNRWA medical team will distribute the vaccine to clinics and through the mobile health team.

"Since the war began and thanks to this effort, 80 percent of children throughout Gaza have received vaccines for various child diseases," he said.

Polio, a highly contagious virus that can cause permanent paralysis in a matter of hours, poses a special threat to children in Gaza.

The re-emergence of polio is attributed to the destruction of water and sanitation infrastructure, coupled with restrictions imposed by Israel on repair and supply delivery.

The UN Security Council has issued a resolution urging related parties to immediately realize a ceasefire.

However, Israel continued the brutal attack on the Gaza Strip following the attack by the Palestinian Hamas group on October 7, 2023.

The onslaught has resulted in more than 40,200 Palestinians, mostly women and children, dying and more than 93,000 injuries, according to local health authorities.