In brief
As the vaccination campaign continues in Gaza, challenges from the conflict threaten the health of many children, particularly in northern regions.
The United Nations and various aid agencies reported that thousands of children in Gaza City were administered a second dose of the polio vaccine this past weekend, despite facing significant obstacles due to escalating Israeli military operations and mass evacuation orders affecting northern Gaza. The vaccination campaign was initially scheduled to start on October 23, but has been hindered by concerns about the safety of healthcare workers amidst the violence.In September, the first phase of the vaccination effort was successfully carried out in northern Gaza. However, the ongoing military offensive has complicated the situation, as armed conflicts have disrupted access and made health interventions more difficult. The United Nations stated that a humanitarian pause for the campaign was only guaranteed for parts of Gaza City, resulting in approximately 15,000 children under the age of 10 in northern towns remaining unreachable for vaccination, which undermines the effectiveness of the immunization campaign.The Israeli government body responsible for overseeing policies in Gaza, known as COGAT, reported that since the second phase resumed on Saturday, a total of 58,604 children in northern Gaza have received their vaccinations. COGAT expressed its commitment to facilitating an effective vaccination program amid the ongoing crisis. Meanwhile, the Gaza Health Ministry confirmed these vaccination figures, with expectations for the campaign to continue through Monday.The healthcare and humanitarian situation in Gaza remains precarious, highlighting the urgent need for sustained efforts to protect the health and well-being of children in conflict-affected areas.
