WHO Announces Temporary Ceasefires in Gaza to Vaccinate Children Against Polio

 

The World Health Organization (WHO) has secured a preliminary agreement from Israel and Hamas for temporary pauses in hostilities in the Gaza Strip to facilitate a critical vaccination campaign against polio. The initiative aims to immunize approximately 640,000 children, following the confirmation of the first polio case in Gaza in 25 years.

Vaccinations are set to begin as early as Sunday, with three planned humanitarian pauses in fighting, each lasting three days and covering different zones: central, southern, and northern Gaza. The pauses will take place between 6 a.m. and 3 p.m., with the option to extend to a fourth day if necessary to ensure sufficient coverage.

Rik Peeperkorn, WHO’s senior official for the Palestinian territories, emphasized the importance of these pauses, noting that an additional day may often be required to reach the target population. WHO Emergencies Director Mike Ryan highlighted that achieving at least 90% vaccination coverage is crucial to halting the outbreak and preventing its spread beyond Gaza.

Despite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s denial of a general ceasefire, his office confirmed support for designated pauses in specific areas to allow the vaccination campaign to proceed. The statement was cautious, likely reflecting internal tensions within the Israeli coalition, where far-right members strongly oppose any form of truce.

Health experts warn that the chaotic conditions in Gaza, marked by ongoing evacuations and bombardments, pose significant challenges to reaching the necessary 90% vaccination target. The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and other aid groups stress that effective planning is essential but difficult to execute under current circumstances.

Over 25,000 vials of polio vaccine, sufficient for more than one million doses, have been delivered to Gaza, along with necessary refrigeration equipment. However, UNRWA spokesperson Juliette Touma underscored the complexities of coordinating such an operation amid the ongoing conflict, emphasizing the critical need for a stable and predictable environment to ensure the success of the vaccination drive.