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
Israeli media: For the first time, Prime Minister Netanyahu is signaling that he wants to end the war on Gaza
Israeli Channel 12, citing an American source: We want to have entered a path toward captive release and a ceasefire before Netanyahu arrives in Washington
Lebanese Ministry of Health: One martyr and two injured in the Israeli airstrike that targeted a motorcycle in the town of Mahrouna
Al Mayadeen correspondent to Southern Lebanon: An Israeli drone strike targeted a vehicle between the towns of Jwayya and Mahrouna.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: One martyred in the Israeli drone strike on a car in the town of Kawnin
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli drone targets a car in the town of Kawnin
Naeini: If our national interests are attacked again, our response this time will be stronger and more destructive
Naeini: The war has proven that the settlers are defenseless against Iranian missile and drone forces
Naeini: Trump lacks an understanding of the true strength of the Iranian people and is so deluded as to believe he can change the reality of Iran's victory
Naeini: The defeat led to Trump's confusion and loss of balance, which was reflected in his ill-considered statements

'Israel' targeted children in Gaza during polio campaign: WHO

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 3 Nov 2024 18:24
  • 1 Shares
4 Min Read

Currently, 15 UN and humanitarian organizations have described the situation in northern Gaza as "apocalyptic".

Listen
  • x
  • 'Israel' targeted children in Gaza during polio campaign: WHO
    Children play together in the dust near shacks in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip on October 30, 2024. (AFP)

Israeli occupation forces targeted a clinic during a polio vaccination program in the Gaza Strip, wounding numerous Palestinian children. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) said that six people, including four children, were injured in a Saturday strike on the Sheikh Radwan facility.

A humanitarian pause had been in place at the clinic to allow for the second and last round of poliovirus vaccines, according to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Ghebreyesus expressed on X that the report is "extremely concerning", citing that a WHO team was present shortly before the strike took place.

“This attack, during a humanitarian pause, jeopardizes the sanctity of health protection for children and may deter parents from bringing their children for vaccination,” he stated, emphasizing the importance of not targeting areas. 

"These vital humanitarian-area-specific pauses must be absolutely respected. Ceasefire!"

We have received an extremely concerning report that the Sheikh Radwan primary health care centre in northern #Gaza was struck today while parents were bringing their children to the life-saving #polio vaccination in an area where a humanitarian pause was agreed to allow… pic.twitter.com/YaFL6pQT3c

— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) November 2, 2024

UNICEF also criticized the attack on the facility involved in the polio vaccine rollout, emphasizing that "robust micro plans" were created to adapt to population shifts and displacements. The second phase of vaccinations began on Saturday after delays due to intense Israeli shelling and access issues.

Related News

Over 40, including children, killed in Sudan hospital attack: WHO

Half a billion adolescents could face obesity by 2030, report warns

The campaign was initiated following the first polio case in 25 years, which paralyzed a newborn boy in August. In a separate incident, UNICEF chief Catherine Russell reported that a staff worker's car was fired upon by a suspected quadcopter, though the driver was unharmed.

Currently, 15 UN and humanitarian organizations have described the situation in northern Gaza as "apocalyptic", with approximately 15,000 children under ten still inaccessible to the immunization program. The WHO aims to administer a second dose of the oral polio vaccine to 119,000 children in the area.

The WHO has said that the recent humanitarian pause in Gaza has been drastically reduced, now restricted to only Gaza City, affecting the polio vaccination program. Experts warn that delays in providing the second dosage might imperil attempts to halt the illness, which requires at least 90% of youngsters to receive two treatments to effectively prevent transmission.

Despite the Israeli siege of northern Gaza, the Polio Technical Committee, which includes the Palestinian Ministry of Health, WHO, UNICEF, and UNRWA, has agreed to restart polio vaccination campaigns for children. The campaign's final round was postponed owing to continuous Israeli airstrikes and ground confrontations.

Roughly 216 teams will provide immunizations at 106 fixed sites, with 22 additional locations added for displaced populations. Furthermore, 209 community mobilizers will seek to create awareness about immunization campaigns. However, UN agencies have emphasized that access to all children in northern Gaza who require the last vaccination shot will remain limited.

According to the agencies, "The final phase of the campaign had aimed to reach an estimated 119,000 children under 10 years old in northern Gaza with a second dose of novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) however, achieving this target is now unlikely due to access constraints."

To stop poliovirus transmission, at least 90% of all children in every village and neighborhood must be immunized, which will be difficult to achieve given the circumstances, according to the authorities.

According to the UN health agency, delaying the administration of a second dosage of nOPV2 for six weeks lowers the impact of two closely spaced rounds, lowering immunity.

The WHO has also warned that having a substantial percentage of youngsters skip their second vaccination dosage gravely jeopardizes attempts to limit the transmission of the virus.

  • World Health Organization
  • Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
  • war on Gaza
  • Palestine
  • Israeli aggression
  • Israel
  • Israeli occupation
  • Gaza
  • Polio
War on Gaza

War on Gaza

Most Read

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attends a protest following the US attacks on nuclear sites in Iran, in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

Iran declares victory as ceasefire forces Israeli retreat

  • Politics
  • 24 Jun 2025
Israeli workers survey the site where a missile launched from Iran struck in Haifa on Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

True Promise 3, wave 20: 40 missiles launched, Kheibar-Shekan in first

  • Politics
  • 22 Jun 2025
Iran launches strikes on Israeli targets, despite alleged ceasefire

Iran victorious as ceasefire with 'Israel' takes effect

  • Politics
  • 24 Jun 2025
Iranian worshippers carry their country's flags in a protest to condemn Israeli attacks on multiple cities across Iran, after the Friday prayers ceremony in Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 20, 2025. (AP)

Iran warns of NPT withdrawal, Strait of Hormuz closure after US attack

  • Politics
  • 22 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Israeli occupation soldiers search for settlers amid the rubble of buildings destroyed by an Iranian missile strike in Bat Yam, central occupied Palestine, on Sunday, June 15, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Iran missile strike flattens Bat Yam, displaces 2,000 settlers

Palestinian fighters from the Islamic Jihad militant group riding on a truck with weaponry on display take part in an anti-Israel parade marking the 36th anniversary of the movement's founding, in Gaza City, Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023 (AP)
Politics

Palestinian Resistance attacks Israeli forces in Khan Younis, Jabalia

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stands waiting to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin for the talks at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Monday, June 23, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Iran suspends IAEA cooperation, Araghchi blames Grossi for attacks

The commander of the Quds Force's Palestine Unit, Brigadier General Mohammad Said Izadi (Illustrated by Mahdi Rtail for Al Mayadeen English)
Politics

Who was Mohammad Said Izadi, head of the Quds Force's Palestine Unit?

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