The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced a significant polio vaccination campaign in Gaza set to begin on Sunday. This effort comes amid ongoing conflict in the region, with key agreements facilitating the operation.
Vaccination Campaign Details
- Agreement and Scheduling
The WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has confirmed that the vaccination campaign will commence on Sunday. To enable this, Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas have agreed to implement three separate, three-day pauses in the fighting. These pauses will be zoned and are scheduled to occur between 6 am and 3 pm each day, as reported by Rik Peeperkorn, the WHO’s senior official for the Palestinian territories.
- Objectives
The primary goal of this campaign is to vaccinate approximately 640,000 children against polio. This initiative aims to prevent the spread of the disease, which has resurfaced in the region after a 25-year absence. The vaccination campaign is crucial for safeguarding the health of Gaza's children and controlling the outbreak.
Recent Developments and Incidents
Israeli Military Actions
-
Operation in the West Bank
Early Thursday, the Israeli military reported the killing of five militants in a large-scale operation in the occupied West Bank. This included Mohammed Jaber, also known as Abu Shujaa, a commander of the Islamic Jihad militant group. Palestinian sources have not yet confirmed his death.
-
Airstrike on Humanitarian Convoy
An Israeli airstrike targeted a humanitarian aid convoy in Gaza, which the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed was aimed at “armed assailants” attempting to hijack the convoy. The convoy, organized by the US-based NGO Anera, was carrying medical supplies and fuel to an Emirati-run hospital in Rafah. According to Anera, the convoy's route had been coordinated with the IDF, and employees of the transport company, rather than armed assailants, were reported killed. The IDF confirmed that the strike targeted a vehicle leading the convoy that had been seized by armed individuals but insisted that no other vehicles were damaged.
-
Incident Involving World Food Programme Vehicle
The IDF acknowledged firing at a clearly marked World Food Programme (WFP) vehicle in Gaza due to a “communication error” between Israeli military units. The Deputy US Ambassador to the UN, Robert Wood, urged Israel to address and rectify the communication issues to prevent future incidents.
European Union and US Reactions
-
EU Sanctions Proposal
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has initiated discussions that could lead to sanctions against Israeli ministers accused of spreading “unacceptable hate messages” against Palestinians. This proposal is part of a broader effort to address international law violations and incitement to war crimes.
-
US Presidential Candidate Statement
Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris has emphasized the need for a ceasefire and the release of hostages in Gaza while reaffirming support for Israel. She stated that there would be no changes to the US policy on arms supplies to Israel if she were elected.
_1725010456.avif)
Humanitarian Efforts and Calls to Action
-
UNRWA’s Preparation
The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has mobilized over 1,000 staff members to support the polio vaccination campaign. Their goal is to reach “hundreds of thousands of children” in Gaza to combat the polio outbreak.
Over 1,000 @UNRWA colleagues are preparing to reach hundreds of thousands of children in the #GazaStrip with a critical polio vaccination campaign.
In the coming days, @UNRWA teams will start administering oral vaccines in health centres, mobile clinics, shelters & tent to tent. pic.twitter.com/0O0AcEdwDn— UNRWA (@UNRWA) August 30, 2024 -
UNICEF’s Urgent Appeal
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell has highlighted the urgency of the vaccination campaign, stressing the need for all parties to adhere to the humanitarian pauses. Russell emphasized that any failure to respect these pauses would be a severe setback for the children in Gaza, who have already endured significant suffering.
It’s very simple. If fighting doesn't stop, polio vaccinators are unable to reach children. Gaza has been polio free for 25yrs until now.
⁰Failing to respect these pauses would be an unforgivable failure for the children in Gaza and the region who have already suffered so much.— Catherine Russell (@unicefchief) August 29, 2024
The planned polio vaccination campaign in Gaza represents a critical effort to protect children from a potentially devastating disease amidst ongoing conflict. The cooperation between conflicting parties to allow for these humanitarian pauses is a positive development, but the success of the campaign depends on continued adherence to these agreements and the safe conduct of the vaccination efforts.
With inputs from The Guardian
Image Source: The Guardian
© Copyright 2024. All Rights Reserved Powered by Vygr Media.
