Polio Vaccination Campaign Begins In War-Torn Gaza, U.N. Stresses Success Only On A Pause In Fighting

As the conflict between Israel and Gaza continues to wreak havoc, a new threat has emerged in the region: polio. The ongoing war has exacerbated the already dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, leading to a resurgence of the poliovirus. In response, health officials have launched an emergency vaccination campaign to curb the spread of the virus.

Despite the challenges posed by the conflict, the campaign has brought a glimmer of hope to the beleaguered population.

A campaign to inoculate children in Gaza against polio and prevent the spread of the virus began on Saturday, the Health Ministry said, as Palestinians in the Hamas-governed enclave and in the occupied West Bank reeled from Israel's military offensives.

A small number of children in Gaza began receiving doses a day before the large-scale vaccine rollout and planned pause in fighting agreed to by Israel and the U.N. World Health Organization. The WHO confirmed the larger campaign would begin Sunday.

The polio outbreak in Gaza has raised alarms across the region, particularly as the virus threatens to spread beyond the enclave's borders. With the healthcare system already stretched thin due to the ongoing strikes and blockades, the situation has become increasingly precarious. The World Health Organization (WHO) and local health authorities have warned that without immediate intervention, the virus could lead to a public health crisis of unprecedented scale.

Amidst the conflict, Israel has agreed to a temporary pause in hostilities to allow for the safe distribution of vaccines. This truce, though fragile, has enabled health workers to begin administering the polio vaccine to children in Gaza, many of whom have been cut off from essential healthcare services for months.

“There must be a cease-fire so that the teams can reach everyone targeted by this campaign,” said Dr. Yousef Abu Al-Rish, Gaza's deputy health minister, describing scenes of sewage running through crowded tent camps.

Associated Press journalists saw about 10 children receiving doses at Nasser hospital in Khan Younis.

“I was terrified and waiting for the vaccination to arrive and for everyone to receive it,” said Amal Shaheen, whose daughter received a dose.

Israel is expected to pause some operations in Gaza on Sunday to allow health workers to administer vaccines with the aim of reaching some 640,000 Palestinian children. Officials said the pause would last at least nine hours and is unrelated to ongoing cease-fire negotiations.

The first batch of polio vaccines arrived in Gaza under tight security, with health workers racing against time to inoculate as many children as possible. The vaccination campaign is being spearheaded by the WHO, in coordination with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and the Palestinian Ministry of Health. The campaign targets children under the age of five, who are most vulnerable to the virus.

The three-day vaccination campaign comes after the first polio case in 25 years in Gaza was discovered this month. Doctors concluded a 10-month-old had been partially paralyzed by a mutated strain of the virus after not being vaccinated due to fighting.

Healthcare workers in Gaza have warned of the potential for a polio outbreak for months. The territory's humanitarian crisis has deepened during the war that broke out after Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing some 1,200 people and abducting around 250. Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed more than 40,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not say how many were militants.

Despite the ceasefire, distributing the vaccine poses significant challenges. Gaza's healthcare infrastructure has been severely damaged by the ongoing conflict, and many areas remain inaccessible due to the destruction of roads and facilities. Moreover, the constant threat of renewed fighting looms large, making it difficult for health workers to reach certain areas. However, the international community has rallied to support the campaign, with additional vaccines and medical supplies being sent to Gaza.

The situation in Gaza remains volatile, with the possibility of renewed hostilities threatening to derail the vaccination campaign. Health officials have expressed concerns that the ceasefire may not hold long enough to complete the vaccination drive. Additionally, the psychological toll of the conflict on both health workers and the population at large cannot be underestimated. Many families are reluctant to bring their children to vaccination centers due to fear of airstrikes or violence.

Despite these challenges, there is hope that the vaccination campaign will succeed in curbing the spread of polio in Gaza. The WHO has stressed the importance of immunization in preventing a full-blown epidemic, and has called on all parties involved in the conflict to prioritize the health and well-being of the region's children. The international community has also pledged continued support, with promises of more vaccines and medical aid in the coming weeks.

The fragile truce has given Gaza a brief respite from the violence, allowing health workers to carry out their mission of protecting the most vulnerable. However, the situation remains precarious, and the success of the vaccination campaign hinges on the maintenance of the ceasefire and the continued flow of aid into the region.