The United Nations Palestinian refugee agency, UNRWA, announced on Monday that polio vaccination coverage in Gaza has reached an impressive 90%. This milestone marks a significant achievement in the agency’s campaign to vaccinate approximately 640,000 children under 10 years old against polio. The success of the first round of vaccinations comes despite the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, which presented numerous challenges to UNRWA and its partners.
The vaccination campaign, launched on September 1, was prompted by the World Health Organization’s confirmation last month of a polio case in Gaza – the first in 25 years. A baby was partially paralyzed by the type 2 polio virus, highlighting the need for urgent action. Over 446,000 Palestinian children in central and south Gaza received vaccinations earlier this month, followed by a campaign to vaccinate an additional 200,000 children in north Gaza beginning September 10.
UNRWA’s Commissioner-General, Philippe Lazzarini, expressed satisfaction with the campaign’s progress, citing the respect shown by parties to the conflict for humanitarian pauses. “Parties to the conflict have largely respected the different required ‘humanitarian pauses’ showing that when there is a political will, assistance can be provided without disruption,” Lazzarini stated. He emphasized that the next challenge lies in administering the second dose of the vaccine to children at the end of September.
The Gaza Strip has faced immense hardship since Israel’s military campaign began on October 7 last year, following Hamas’s incursion into southern Israel. The resulting violence has claimed over 41,000 Palestinian lives and left much of the territory in ruins, according to Gaza’s health ministry. Despite these difficult circumstances, the successful vaccination campaign offers a glimmer of hope for the region’s most vulnerable populations.
Lazzarini’s comments underscore the importance of cooperation and political will in delivering essential humanitarian services. As the situation in Gaza remains precarious, the international community continues to advocate for peaceful resolution and increased support for humanitarian efforts.
