The final phase of a two-stage polio vaccination campaign has started in north Gaza on Saturday, the World Health Organization (WHO) said.
The immunisations are resuming as 15 UN and humanitarian organisations have described the situation in north Gaza as “apocalyptic” nearly a month after an Israeli ground offensive began.
The WHO had aimed to give 119,000 children in the area a second dose of the oral polio vaccine.
The UN human rights chief said last week that the Gaza war’s “darkest moment” is unfolding in the north of the territory.
At least 100,000 people have been forced to evacuate from north Gaza towards Gaza City for safety, the WHO said.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that the last stage of a two-phase polio vaccination campaign had begun in north Gaza on Saturday.
Due to severe Israeli bombardment, widespread displacement, and restricted access in the area, UN agencies decided to postpone the second phase in October.
After Gaza saw its first polio case in 25 years in August, which paralyzed a baby boy, the program was launched.
Nearly a month after an Israeli ground offensive started, 15 UN and humanitarian organizations have called the situation in north Gaza “apocalyptic,” prompting the start of the vaccination campaign.
The WHO said that a humanitarian pause in the conflict has been reached to enable the resumption of vaccinations in Gaza City. The three-day campaign will run.
The effectiveness of the vaccination campaign will be compromised because approximately 15,000 children under the age of ten in towns in northern Gaza, including Jabalia, Beit Lahia, and Beit Hanoun, “still remain inaccessible,” the agency said.
The WHO had planned to administer a second dose of the oral polio vaccine to 119,000 local children.
According to the agency, reaching this goal “is now unlikely due to access constraints.”.
Between September 1 and September 12, the first round of the vaccination campaign, which included local “humanitarian pauses” agreed upon by Israeli and Palestinian organizations, successfully reached 559,000 children under the age of ten in three phases throughout south, central, and northern Gaza.
The WHO claims that the area covered by the most recent humanitarian pause “has been substantially reduced” in comparison to the initial round of vaccinations and is currently only available in Gaza City.
Since the beginning of the polio vaccination campaign in Gaza, health professionals have emphasized that postponing the second dose could compromise efforts to stop the spread of the infectious, potentially fatal disease.
At least 90% of all children must receive two doses or more in order to stop transmission.
The “darkest moment” in the Gaza war is taking place in the northern part of the territory, according to the UN human rights chief’s statement last week.
Since the Israeli military began a ground offensive in Beit Lahia, neighboring Jabalia, and Beit Hanoun on October 6, hundreds of people are said to have died. The military claimed to be acting against Hamas fighters who were regrouping.
According to the WHO, at least 100,000 people had to leave north Gaza for safety and head towards Gaza City.
The WHO and other UN agencies issued a joint statement on Friday describing the situation as “apocalyptic” and stating that all Palestinians in the region were “at imminent risk of dying from disease, famine, and violence.”.
According to the UN, roughly 100,000 people still live in appalling conditions with acute food, water, and medical supply shortages.
As the deadline to increase aid approaches, the United States warned Israel this week that it must immediately increase humanitarian aid into Gaza or risk reducing its military assistance. Israel’s words “must be matched by action,” which is “not happening,” according to the US envoy to the UN on Tuesday.
Following Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and 251 hostage-takings, Israel began a campaign to eradicate the organization.
The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza has reported that since then, more than 43,300 people have died there.
