UN businesses and companions within the Strip will proceed to vaccinate “as many Gazan kids as doable” throughout the agreed humanitarian pauses, earlier than transferring to the north of the war-shattered enclave, UNRWA added.
1000’s of households visited well being facilities to get their doses from UN medical groups, UNRWA reported. In southern Gaza, greater than 152,000 kids have been vaccinated in Khan Younis metropolis, practically 8,800 in Rafah and one other 1,000 elsewhere within the south.
The promising growth follows the profitable completion of the primary section of the vaccination marketing campaign in central Gaza earlier this week, which noticed greater than 187,000 kids beneath 10 obtain safety from polio. Up to now, mixed protection for central and southern Gaza now stands at 354,786 kids.
340,000 want pictures within the south
In whole, help groups goal to achieve 340,000 kids in southern Gaza by Saturday, both in faculties, well being centres or by going from tent to tent.
A 3rd and last section is scheduled to start in northern Gaza on Monday 9 September for 3 days, concentrating on round 150,000 kids, with a repeat of the entire train in 4 weeks.
As soon as accomplished, some 640,000 children can have acquired two drops of the brand new kind 2 oral polio vaccine in every of the 2 phases, after the extremely transmissible virus resurfaced in Gaza in June after 25 years.
The marketing campaign is being led by the Palestinian Ministry of Well being in collaboration with the World Well being Group (WHO), UNRWA, the UN Kids’s Fund (UNICEF) and different humanitarian companions.
Worldwide media ban stays
Practically 11 months for the reason that begin of the conflict that was sparked by Hamas-led terror assaults on a number of targets in Israel, worldwide media groups are nonetheless barred from getting into Gaza by Israeli authorities.
“It’s commonplace for worldwide journalists to cowl conflicts and wars,” said UNRWA Commissioner-Common Philippe Lazzarini, as he urged worldwide media to push tougher for entry to the enclave and report freely.
“Palestinian journalists have my admiration. They proceed to carry the torch regardless of far too a lot of them have been killed. They want the help of their colleagues,” he mentioned.
Wennesland: Cease West Financial institution violence
Whereas conflict continues to rage in Gaza, ongoing lethal clashes within the occupied West Financial institution which have left two Palestinian kids useless in Jenin and Tulkarem have been condemned by the UN’s prime consultant for the Center East Peace Course of, Tor Wennesland.
“I’m appalled by the tragic killing of two kids over the previous two days by Israeli safety forces throughout army operations in Jenin and Tulkarem,” he mentioned in a web based put up on Thursday.
“I name for a right away and thorough investigation into these incidents, underscoring the pressing want for accountability and justice to make sure the safety of all civilians. Each youngster’s life is valuable, and the lack of so many younger lives serves as a grim reminder that decisive motion should be taken now to cease the violence.”
Echoing that message, UNWRA reported that violence and destruction “improve by the hour” within the West Financial institution.
In line with the UN company, final week was the deadliest for Palestinian civilians within the West Financial institution since November final yr, with seven kids among the many many killed.
“That is unacceptable. It should cease now,” UNRWA insisted on X.
The UN help coordination workplace, OCHA, additionally reported that medical services have been practically beneath siege for over every week, with extreme restrictions on ambulance and medical workers motion.
Humanitarian wants are rising amid rising insecurity and an extreme use of drive, it added.
