The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) announced that a massive polio vaccination campaign is set to commence in Gaza, targeting over 3,000 individuals.
Sam Roz, UNRWA’s Gaza Field Director, highlighted on X platform (formerly Twitter) that a confluence of water shortages, healthcare access, and obstacles in humanitarian aid delivery has created a “perfect storm,” leading to the reemergence of polio in the region.
Roz detailed that the campaign would involve more than 1,000 UNRWA personnel among others and is aimed at addressing this urgent health crisis.
Additionally, Palestinian Health Minister Majid Abu Ramadan reported the arrival of 1.2 million polio vaccine doses last Sunday at UNICEF’s Gaza facilities.
These doses have been properly stored in a cold chain and will be part of an effort to vaccinate over 95% of children between the ages of one day and ten years old. An additional 400,000 doses are expected soon to further support this critical public health initiative.
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has refuted reports that Israel agreed to a U.S. request for a humanitarian ceasefire to facilitate polio vaccinations in Gaza.
According to Netanyahu’s office, “The reports that Israel agreed to a ceasefire in Gaza are incorrect.”
The statement clarified that the arrangement was not a ceasefire but merely a designation of specific areas within the sector to administer polio vaccines.
The clarification comes amid Israeli media reports that suggested Israel, under American pressure, had agreed to a “ceasefire” in Gaza to carry out polio vaccination campaigns for children.
