The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced its readiness to resume polio vaccinations in northern Gaza after a temporary suspension last month due to escalating Israeli attacks in the area. The UN-led campaign faced a setback on October 23 when Israeli forces targeted a school in northern Gaza where vaccinations were scheduled, leading to the program's halt.
The three-phased vaccination campaign, initiated in September, has been subject to intermittent pauses in fighting as agreed upon by the Israeli military. Following the recent developments, the WHO has confirmed that the campaign will restart in northern Gaza, albeit with a smaller coverage area this time.
To ensure broader access to vaccinations for displaced individuals, additional staff members have been mobilized, and the duration of humanitarian pauses has been extended by two hours. Despite these efforts, approximately 15,000 children in the targeted northern towns of Jabalya, Beit Lahia, and Beit Hanoun remain inaccessible and will not be reached during the upcoming campaign.
Israel's Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), responsible for aid distribution in the region, has announced that polio vaccinations will resume over a three-day period starting from Saturday. COGAT, in coordination with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), will oversee the vaccination of hundreds of thousands of children in the area.
