Sat Nov 02 19:08:33 UTC 2024: ## Polio Vaccination Campaign in Gaza Under Fire: Children Injured in Strike on Vaccination Center

**Gaza City, November 2, 2024** – A polio vaccination campaign in northern Gaza, already facing significant challenges due to the ongoing conflict, suffered a setback on Saturday when an Israeli airstrike targeted a vaccination center in Gaza City, injuring six people, including four children. The incident occurred despite a humanitarian pause that was meant to allow for the vaccination campaign to proceed.

The World Health Organization (WHO) condemned the strike, which targeted the Sheikh Radwan primary health care center, where parents were bringing their children for the life-saving polio vaccination. “The attack on the vaccination center is a grave violation of international humanitarian law and a serious setback to efforts to protect children from this preventable disease,” stated WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Al Jazeera reported that the center was targeted with a sound bomb by an Israeli quadcopter, causing shrapnel injuries to several children. Thousands of children are expected to miss out on the crucial vaccination due to ongoing Israeli attacks and the limited access to certain areas in northern Gaza, including Jabalia, Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoon.

The second phase of the polio vaccination campaign, which aims to inoculate an estimated 119,000 children in northern Gaza, has been hindered by the ongoing Israeli ground invasion and the blockade on humanitarian aid. The UN has described the situation in northern Gaza as “apocalyptic”, with over 43,200 Palestinians killed and over 101,800 wounded since the start of the conflict.

Polio was eradicated in Gaza 25 years ago but resurfaced earlier this year due to the destruction of the healthcare system caused by Israeli attacks. The current vaccination campaign is crucial not only for the safety of Palestinian children but also to prevent the spread of the virus to neighboring countries.

The UN agencies involved in the vaccination effort, including UNICEF and UNRWA, have called for a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire to ensure the safety of civilians and allow for humanitarian aid to reach those in need. They have emphasized that the polio vaccination campaign is a critical component of protecting vulnerable populations, but the ongoing violence continues to threaten the health and lives of countless Palestinians.

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