A polio vaccination campaign in northern Gaza is to resume today, after being suspended due to recent hostilities. The World Health Organization reported that six people, including four children, were injured in a strike on the Sheikh Radwan clinic, although the responsible party remains unclear. Gaza’s civil defense agency attributes the attack to an Israeli quadcopter, but Israel is still investigating the incident.
The UN children’s agency, UNICEF, which is spearheading the vaccination campaign with WHO, condemned the clinic strike, terming it one of a series of “indiscriminate strikes on civilians.” This vaccination push is important because Gaza reported its first polio case in 25 years in August, paralyzing an infant boy and emphasizing the need for vaccination in the region. The second phase of the operations was delayed last month as a result of heavy bombing by the Israelis, massive displacement, and accessibility.
There are still around 15,000 children under ten remaining in inaccessible areas in Jabalia, Beit Lahia, and Beit Hanoun towns that will still make it hard to get to 90% coverage to break further transmission chains. Meanwhile, the campaign’s first round has so far vaccinated 559,000 children under ten in the Gaza strip in September.
Humanitarian efforts are becoming tougher with time. The situation is described as “apocalyptic,” with WHO and other agencies observing the scenario in northern Gaza. Food, water, and medical supplies are in short supply, which makes it a pretty challenging condition for the displaced around 100,000 people. The US is asking Israel to speed up its move of humanitarian aid into Gaza, and more American military aid will come with an increase in the aid provided.
The ongoing bombardment by Israel against Gaza began in response to an attack from Hamas into southern Israel on October 7, causing over 1,200 deaths and taking hostages. Since then, more than 43,300 have been reported killed by Gaza’s health ministry, which is controlled by Hamas.
The humanitarian pause agreed for the vaccination campaign is to last three days but is limited to Gaza City, thereby reducing its coverage area as compared to previous rounds of vaccination in September.