Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Palestinian Ministry of Health: Two were martyred in Israeli shelling that targeted a besieged house in the town of Qabatiya in Jenin
At least 68 dead in migrant shipwreck off Yemen: IOM
Trump: We want to feed the people in Gaza, we do not want them to starve.
US President Donald Trump: We will impose sanctions on Russia if it does not end the war on Ukraine.
Israeli media: Polls show that 52% oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while only 29% support him.
Israeli media: 32% of Americans still support "Israel's" war on Hamas, while 60% oppose it.
Israeli media: Core US support for "Israel" hits its lowest, while support for Palestine reaches its highest levels.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent reports martyrs, injuries in Israeli bombardment of home in Heker al-Jame area in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza.
Al-Quds Governorate: Today, the spatial division of Al-Aqsa Mosque began in a public and dangerous manner, and we warn of a religious war in the region
The Ministry of Health in Gaza: This brings the total number of victims of famine and malnutrition to 175, including 93 children

UN seeks Gaza truces, albeit brief, for children polio vaccination

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 16 Aug 2024 17:55
  • 1 Shares
3 Min Read

The WHO and UNICEF have requested the humanitarian pauses be implemented "to allow for two rounds of vaccination campaigns to take place."

Listen
  • x
  • UN wants brief Gaza truces to vaccinate children against polio
    Displaced children in Gaza share a bowl of food outside their tents. (Undated, UNRWA photo)

UN organizations urged for two seven-day breaks in the war on Gaza in order to vaccinate over 640,000 children against polio, which has been found in wastewater.

The UN's health and children's organizations announced they had a plan to reach Palestinian children throughout the war-torn Strip, beginning later this month.

The World Health Organization and UNICEF, however, stated that this would necessitate a ceasefire. 

They stated that a two-round vaccination program against type 2 poliovirus (cVDPV2) would be launched in the Gaza Strip beginning in late August.

Hamas Political Bureau member Izzat al-Rishq instantly expressed the movement's support for the UN’s request for a 7-day truce in order to vaccinate thousands of children against polio, further highlighting the need to ensure the entry of medicine and food to more than two million Palestinians besieged in the Gaza Strip.

Last month, the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza issued an urgent warning after tests conducted on sewage samples, in coordination with UNICEF, confirmed the presence of the poliovirus.

The alarming discovery highlights what the Ministry labeled as a "new health disaster" that comes amid the flow of contaminated water through the densely populated areas and displacement camps, where infrastructure has been severely damaged due to the relentless Israeli bombardment since October 7.

The WHO and UNICEF requested the humanitarian pauses be implemented "to allow for two rounds of vaccination campaigns to take place," allowing for "children and families to safely reach health facilities and community outreach workers to get to children who cannot access health facilities for polio vaccination."

The agencies warned that should no pause be implemented, "the delivery of the campaign will not be possible."

Related News

Cholera devastates Darfur region amid conflict, US aid cuts

US uses tariffs to strongarm India on Russia ties

During each wave of the campaign, Gaza's Health Ministry and UN organizations would administer "two drops of novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) to more than 640,000 children under 10 years of age." 

Polio, malnutrition tighten death grip on Gaza children

The number of cases of malnutrition among children in northern Gaza rose by almost 300% in July as compared to May, a report released last week by the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) revealed.

It stated that 96% of Gaza's population suffers from crisis levels of hunger, citing data from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) and the Global Nutrition Cluster.

Detected malnutrition cases among children in northern Gaza increased by more than 300% in July compared with May, says @GNCGENEVA.

96% of Gaza’s population faces crisis levels of hunger, according to @theIPCinfo. Gaza needs more aid and a #CeasefireNow pic.twitter.com/Pc382sW7Wr

— UNRWA (@UNRWA) August 8, 2024

The World Health Organization Director Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus tweeted about the levels of polio plaguing Gaza and said that the WHO, UNRWA, and UNICEF are preparing "two rounds of polio vaccination campaigns targeting 600,000 children under the age of 8."

"WHO is sending more than 1 million polio vaccines to Gaza, which will be administered in the coming weeks," he affirmed.

The detection of #polio in wastewater in #Gaza is a tell-tale sign that the virus has been circulating in the community, putting unvaccinated children at risk.

In coordination with the Ministry of Health, @WHO, @UNICEF, @UNRWA and partners are preparing two rounds of polio…

— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) August 7, 2024

The Director, however, asserted the need for "absolute freedom of movement for health workers and medical equipment to carry out these complex operations safely and effectively."

"A ceasefire, or at least 'days of tranquility' during preparation and delivery of the vaccination campaigns, are required to protect children in Gaza from polio," he added.

Amid daily Israeli massacres, #Gaza has now declared the Strip a #polio epidemic zone, linking the outbreak to the ongoing siege and genocide.#GazaGenocide#Palestine pic.twitter.com/rZlZHC4MOJ

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) August 3, 2024

  • United States
  • United Nations
  • Palestine
  • Gaza
  • war on Gaza
  • Polio
  • Israel
  • Israeli occupation
  • Ceasefire in Gaza
War on Gaza

War on Gaza

Most Read

A rescued crew member from the ETERNITY C vessel in a video released by the Yemeni Armed Forces on July 28, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen Navy reveals fate of targeted Eternity C ship crew

  • Politics
  • 28 Jul 2025
An Israeli tank explodes following an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza, Occupied Palestine, undated (Al-Qassam Military Media)

Al-Qassam strikes Israeli vehicles in Gaza, inflicts casualties

  • Politics
  • 30 Jul 2025
UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

  • Politics
  • 1 Aug 2025
Protesters chant anti-Israeli slogans as they carry a banner that reads:" Freedom for Palestine, Alliance stop the war," during a demonstration in support of Palestinians in Gaza, outside the Israeli embassy, in Athens, Monday, June 9, 2025 (AP)

Athens mayor slams Israeli ambassador over Gaza war, graffiti claim

  • Politics
  • 3 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A member of the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, takes part in a parade as he celebrates a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and the Israeli regime in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Sunday, January 19, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Al-Qassam: We’ll allow aid to Israeli captives if Gaza siege ends

Freed Lebanese freedom fighter Georges Abdallah during an interview on Al Mayadeen, which aired on Sunday, August 3, 2025 (Al Mayadeen screengrab)
Politics

Exclusive: Resistance key to building state, Georges Abdallah says

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres gives a statement about the situation in Gaza at UN headquarters, Friday, June 27, 2025 (AP)
Politics

UN warns Gaza faces water crisis, looming famine under Israeli siege

Israeli soldiers drive their armored personnel carrier along the Gaza Strip, in southern occupied Palestine, Wednesday, July 30, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ex-Israeli general says Gaza starvation campaign isolated 'Israel'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS