Rabat – The World Health Organization (WHO) and other UN humanitarian agencies called today for a ceasefire in Gaza to facilitate a mass vaccination campaign aimed at preventing a polio outbreak in the war-torn enclave.
The ongoing war and relentless Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) bombardments have decimated healthcare services in Gaza, severely disrupting routine vaccinations for children.
This disruption has left young Palestinians vulnerable to preventable diseases, including polio. Last month, the WHO confirmed the presence of polio in several sewage samples collected from Gaza.
Speaking to journalists in Geneva, WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier emphasized that a ceasefire would be the ideal solution. He stressed the need to clear Gaza’s roads to ensure the safe delivery of medical supplies and other essential aid.
“Without a ceasefire and safe access, it would be challenging to eradicate polio,” Lindmeier warned. He noted that the WHO is sending approximately one million vaccines to Gaza, but these could remain stuck at border checkpoints without a ceasefire.
Echoing similar concerns, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has reiterated the need for a vaccination in the Palestinian enclave. UNICEF spokesperson James Elder highlighted that full vaccination significantly reduces the risk of contracting paralytic poliomyelitis.
But massive displacements, the destruction of health infrastructure by the IOF, and the insecure operational environment have severely impacted vaccination efforts, he lamented. Vaccination coverage in Gaza has dropped to about 89%, increasing the risk for children.
Read also: Over 180,000 Flee Khan Younis Amid Intensified Bombardment
The UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) also raised alarms about the growing threat of hepatitis A among Gaza’s children. Overcrowded shelters, lack of potable water, and insufficient hygiene products have exacerbated the situation.
According to UNRWA, weekly hepatitis A cases have surged from 85 before the conflict to nearly 40,000 since Israel launched its brutal war on Gaza.
Currently, Gaza residents have access to only two to nine liters of water per person per day, far below the recommended minimum of 15 liters.
“We are in a deadly cycle where children suffer from malnutrition, immense heat, lack of water, and inadequate sanitation, amidst an active conflict,” Elder lamented.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has meanwhile reported that more than 200,000 people in Gaza, or 9% of the population, have been forcibly displaced by the IOF’s endless evacuation orders.
