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
Araghchi to Grossi: These parties will bear responsibility for the consequences of their actions
Araghchi to Grossi: Iran will respond to any unlawful action by European countries or parties attempting to turn the Agency into a tool for achieving their objectives
Araghchi to Grossi: We urge the Agency to warn against the consequences of any political move against Iran
Araghchi to Grossi: We call on the Agency to highlight Iran’s full cooperation during the upcoming Board of Governors meeting next week
Araghchi to Grossi: We demand that the Agency reflect the facts in a manner that prevents certain parties from exploiting it to advance their political agendas
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi holds a phone call with IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi
Trump envoy Witkoff has sent 'detailed and acceptable proposal' to Iran for nuclear deal; it's in their best interest to accept it: White House Press Secretary Leavitt
Hamas official says Witkoff's position toward group was 'unfair' and shows 'complete bias' to 'Israel'
Hamas official says it has considered Witkoff's proposal acceptable for negotiations, says 'Israel's' response was incompatible with what the group agreed on
Hamas official says group has not rejected Wikoff's proposal for Gaza ceasefire

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

Iran warns against politicization of IAEA, during critical period

US Envoy calls Hamas ceasefire response 'totally unacceptable'

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

President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrive to a news conference in the East Room of the White House, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Washington (AP)

Rift widens: Trump, Netanyahu clash in heated phone call over Iran

  • Politics
  • 26 May 2025
US judges quietly consider private security amid Trump tensions

US judges quietly consider private security amid Trump pressures

  • US & Canada
  • 25 May 2025
An Israeli army vehicle moves in the Gaza Strip as seen from southern occupied Palestine, Thursday, May 29, 2025 (AP)

Hamas rejects Witkoff ceasefire plan, says alters terms

  • Politics
  • 29 May 2025
Spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, announces a new operation against Ben Gurion Airport on May 29, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen announces successful hypersonic missile strike on Ben Gurion

  • Politics
  • 30 May 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
MIT bans class president who gave pro-Palestine speech
US & Canada

MIT bans class president over pro-Palestine speech

Arab ministers condemn Israel 'ban' on planned West Bank visit
Politics

Arab ministers condemn Israeli ban on planned West Bank visit

Major General Hu Gangfeng, Vice President, National Defense University, People's Liberation Army, China, leaves after a panel discussion during the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue summit in Singapore, Saturday, May 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
Politics

China blasts Hegseth, calls US top 'troublemaker' in Asia-Pacific

US activists demand shutdown of Musk's 'dirty' supercomputer: Reports
Technology

US activists demand shutdown of Musk's 'dirty' supercomputer: NBC News

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