The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said a polio vaccination campaign in the Gaza Strip had reached 189,000 girls and boys, exceeding its target and offering a “rare ray of hope” nearly 11 months into the war.

Adel Khodr, UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, said that in Gaza, “after nearly a year of families enduring horrors that no man, woman or child should ever have to endure, this week we saw what can be achieved through sheer willpower.”

He stressed that the risk of polio spreading in Gaza and even beyond, especially to neighboring countries, remains high. He added that UNICEF, UNRWA and WHO are working tirelessly to launch a campaign in Gaza to vaccinate 640,000 children under 10 years of age.

“The first phase of the campaign, which ran from September 1 to 3, reached more than 189,000 children under the age of 10 in the central Gaza Strip, exceeding its initial target.

“Despite ongoing attacks on schools and shelters for homeless children, relocation orders that force families to move again and again, and widespread hunger that has at times brought parts of Gaza to the brink of famine, families have made efforts to flock to vaccination sites in large numbers. “They know there is no time to lose in protecting their children.”

Khodr stressed that this is one of the most dangerous and challenging vaccination campaigns on the planet, as Gaza is already the most dangerous place in the world for minors, and even with the polio pause, the “vaccination campaign” faces serious dangers and immeasurable obstacles, including damaged roads and health infrastructure, displaced populations, looting and disrupted supply routes.”

Conflict in Gaza Strip This has a devastating impact on children and their families. More than 14,000 boys and girls According to the latest estimates from the Palestinian Health Ministry, there have been deaths and thousands more injured. There is no safe place. Children in Gaza have endured the trauma of war, the effects of which will last a lifetime.

There are an estimated 1.9 million displaced people in the Gaza Strip – approximately 9 out of every 10 Gazans. more than half of them are boys and girls. The population lacks water, food, fuel and medicine. Their homes have been destroyed and families have been separated. Many children have been forced to move several times and have lost their homes, parents and loved ones. They need protection, just as other services they depend on, such as health facilities and shelters, must be protected, according to a briefing note from UNICEF.

The children of Gaza are experiencing unimaginable atrocities and deserve an immediate ceasefire and a chance to live in a peaceful future.

What does UNICEF demand?

UNICEF continues to press world leaders to allow full access for humanitarian aid throughout the Gaza Strip. To respond to the situation of children in Israel and the State of Palestine, UNICEF calls on:

• An immediate and lasting humanitarian ceasefire.
• Safe and unimpeded humanitarian access to and within the Gaza Strip to assist affected populations wherever they are, including in the northern areas. All border crossings must be open, in particular to allow the delivery of fuel and supplies needed to reopen and restore critical infrastructure and commercial supplies. In addition, the safe movement of humanitarian workers and supplies within the Gaza Strip must be ensured, as well as a reliable telecommunications network to coordinate the response.
• The immediate, safe and unconditional release of all abducted boys and girls, as well as prevent and end attacks on childrenincluding murder and maiming.
• Respect and protect civilian infrastructure such as shelters and schools, as well as health, electricity, water and sanitation facilities, to prevent the loss of life among civilians and children, prevent an outbreak of disease and ensure care for the sick and wounded. All parties to the conflict must respect international humanitarian law.
• Persons in need of emergency medical care in the Gaza Strip will be allowed to leave Gaza or receive critical medical services, and injured or sick children will be evacuated and accompanied by their families.
• continuous protection of boys and girls and their families when they are unable or unwilling to move following an evacuation order. People should be allowed to move freely to safer areas, but they should never be forced to do so.

The threat of disease is increasing

Water production capacity dropped to a fraction of normal output, and many water supply, sanitation and hygiene facilities were damaged or destroyed. The population does not have safe access clean water, toilets and sinks, and displaced children and their families cannot maintain the levels of hygiene needed to prevent disease and chronic diarrhea, the leading cause of childhood death in all emergencies.

Damage and destruction have overwhelmed health services in the Gaza Stripwhich is exacerbated by supply shortages and a reduction in bed capacity.

You might be interested > UNRWA notes progress in Gaza polio campaign

Given the collapse of sewerage and wastewater treatment services, Polio virus joins list of threatsespecially for the thousands of boys and girls who have not been vaccinated. The Gaza Strip remained polio-free for 25 years until its recent resurgence has become a threat to children in the region and neighboring countries. Vaccination is presented as the safest and most effective way to protect children from the polio virus, regardless of its variant.

On 1 September 2024, UNICEF and its partners launched a vaccination campaign to reach at least 640,000 children in two waves.

UNICEF continues to work with partners on the ground to provide supplies and support to children and families. But aid is not reaching all the boys and girls who desperately need it. Day after day, UNICEF and its partners face three main challenges in reaching those who need it most: security, logistics, and restrictions on the movement of commercial goods.