Palestinian Health Minister Mai Al-Kaila announced a shipment of child vaccinations in the Gaza Strip via the Rafah border crossing.
This marks the first shipment since the onset of “Operation Al-Aqsa Flood” on October 7th that vaccinations have entered the region.
According to the Palestinian news agency WAFA, Minister Al-Kaila stated that the vaccines, purchased by the Palestinian government and supplemented by donations from UNICEF, have started entering the sector.
She highlighted the critical role of the Egyptian Ministry of Health, which agreed to use its cold chain facilities on Egyptian territory to store the vaccines under UNICEF supervision, adhering to global standards.
Minister Al-Kaila praised Egypt’s pivotal role in facilitating the entry of vaccines into Gaza, especially given the critical epidemiological situation caused by the ongoing 87-day Israeli war on the Gaza Strip.
She mentioned that the vaccinations include polio, measles, rubella, mumps, and other routine pediatric immunizations, sufficient for 8 to 14 months.
The conflict between Israel and the Hamas movement, which controls the Gaza Strip, erupted on October 7, 2023, following attacks by Hamas on areas around Gaza.
These attacks resulted in approximately 1200 deaths and the kidnapping of around 240 people, who were taken to Gaza, as per Israeli authorities.
In response, Israel has been continuously bombarding the Gaza Strip, leading to over 21,000 casualties, mostly women and children, according to Gaza’s health authorities. This has also destroyed Gaza’s infrastructure and a complete blockade of the area.
During the conflict, a 7-day ceasefire was achieved through Egyptian, Qatari, and American mediation. Under this truce, women and children prisoners were exchanged, and aid was delivered to the Gaza Strip.
