The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) issued a stark warning on Friday, highlighting the potential catastrophic impact of military operations in Gaza during the upcoming polio vaccination campaign.
In a statement on X, UNRWA emphasized, “We cannot vaccinate children who are fleeing for their lives,” and cautioned that military actions during the vaccination campaign could severely hinder the UN and its partners’ efforts to protect children in Gaza. The agency warned that the repercussions could be “disastrous” not only for Gaza’s children but also for the broader region, which has already suffered greatly due to the ongoing conflict.
UNRWA stressed the urgent need for a cease-fire to ensure the vaccinations can be administered, emphasizing that hostages must be returned to their families and that everyone needs a respite from the violence.
The Palestinian Health Ministry announced that the polio vaccination campaign for children under ten will begin in Gaza on Sunday. According to Israeli Channel 12, a senior WHO official reported that Tel Aviv had agreed to a temporary halt in military operations in certain areas to facilitate the vaccinations. However, Israel has not yet commented on the proposed temporary cease-fire.
Despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire, Israel has continued its military operations in Gaza following the October 7 attack by Hamas. The conflict has resulted in over 40,600 Palestinian deaths and more than 93,800 injuries, according to local health authorities.
The ongoing blockade of Gaza has led to severe shortages of essential supplies, including food, clean water, and medicine, worsening the humanitarian crisis. Israel faces accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice, which has ordered a halt to military operations in Rafah, where over one million Palestinians had sought refuge.
