UNSC meets to discuss Israeli violations, Gaza polio vaccination

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: United Nations News
30 Aug 2024 02:46

The Security Council's members reiterated the need for a successful polio vaccination campaign in the Gaza Strip.

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A screen shows the Executive Director of the World Health Organization's Health Emergencies Programme Michael Ryan speaks during a Security Council meeting at United Nations headquarters, on August 29, 2024. (AP)

The United Nations Security Council held an emergency meeting in New York to discuss the possibility of a humanitarian truce to ensure the viability of the polio vaccination program in the besieged Gaza Strip, as well as other issues in the Middle East.

The UN humanitarian wing OCHA, Joyce Msuya, told ambassadors that humanitarians are working "relentlessly" to stop the spread of polio through the Gaza Strip after the first case in 25 years was detected last week.

Fears of polio spreading among Palestinians in the besieged territory began to rise after a variant of the virus was detected in sewage water in the central Gaza Strip. This came as a direct result of the Israeli occupation's systematic destruction of both the Gaza Strip's water systems and its health sector.

Mike Ryan, an official at the World Health Organization (WHO), told officials at the meeting that the polio campaign should "mark a significant change" to the whole process of aid delivery to the Gaza Strip, which has been significantly hindered by Israeli authorities.

Algeria calls for a ceasefire to end the catastrophic humanitarian situation

Algreia's ambassador and deputy permanent representative to the United Nations (UN), Nacim Gaouaoui, said that the briefings on Thursday reflected the "tragic reality" of the international community's failure to enforce humanitarian law inside the Gaza Strip.

"They clearly show the scale of the brutality the Palestinians are subjected to as a result of an occupation that disregarded all conventions and norms," he stated.

Algeria reiterated its call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip in order to bring the "catastrophic humanitarian situation" to an end.

Gaouaoui underlined that the Israeli regime would be held accountable for its crimes and blatant violation of international law.

Israeli attacks against humanitarians

Israeli occupation forces had also shot at a convoy of the UN's World Food Programme (WFP), which garnered condemnation from several members of the UNSC.

"Humanitarian workers are not obligated to risk their lives to provide assistance to those in need. It is our obligation to protect them and enable them to carry out their noble functions without fear or threat," he added.

UNRWA's irreplaceable role

Algeria's representative stressed the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East's (UNRWA) humanitarian role in the Gaza Strip, saying that it cannot be replaced. The agency has come under fierce attacks from the Israeli regime and its allies that seek to set it aside and replace it with other organizations.

UNRWA would also play a crucial role in ensuring that the vaccination program in the besieged territory is successful.

China: Polio knows no borders

China's Ambassador and Permanent Representative, Geng Shuang, underscored that despite the multiple decisions of the Security Council and the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the situation in Gaza has "continued to worsen."

"Israel continued to further suppress and restrict the UN and other humanitarian organizations, frequently rejecting delivers of supplies such as fuel," Geng added.

He stressed the need for a successful polio vaccination campaign in the Gaza Strip, saying that the virus "knows no borders."

The diplomat emphasized the appeal of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres who urged "Israel" to provide security guarantees and facilitate the vaccination campaign.

Russia: There is no safe space in Gaza

Dmitry Polyanskiy, Deputy Permanent Representative of Russia, emphasized that the Security Council must ensure the UN and its agencies can continue their work in Gaza.

"All of these words uttered today have transformed into futile cliches," he said, reflecting on the devastation in Gaza, the suffering of its people, and the recent incident where Israeli forces fired on a UN vehicle.

He pointed to the UN agencies' warnings that "there is no safe space in Gaza" amid outbreaks of infectious diseases like polio.

An open-ended sustainable ceasefire is needed, he stated, adding that the international community must demand that Israel cease attacks on humanitarian workers.

He urged that the Security Council take action to ensure a ceasefire, saying that what is missing to do so is a political will.

France urges non-negotiable start of polio vaccination campaign

The humanitarian crisis has reached an “untenable” level, with rising evacuation orders exacerbating risks for civilians and severely limiting aid workers' effectiveness, according to French Permanent Representative Nicolas de Rivière.

He called on Israel to establish an "effective deconfliction system" by implementing humanitarian pauses and to ensure the immediate initiation of the "non-negotiable" polio vaccination campaign.

US says 'Israel' must guarantee safety of aid workers after multiple violations

Robert Wood, Deputy Permanent Representative of the United States, spoke of his delegation's support for the UN's polio vaccination campaign, saying that it must be carried out in Gaza without delay.

"We urge Israel to avoid issuing evacuation orders during the campaign," he stated. "The success of this effort is crucial to saving children's lives."

Addressing recent incidents where the IOF targeted World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF vehicles, Wood asserted that Israel must acknowledge these errors and guarantee that its forces do not fire upon UN personnel again.