UN Calls for Ceasefire in Israel-Gaza War to Vaccinate Children Against Polio

Urgent Vaccination Campaign Needed to Prevent Outbreak

The United Nations is calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza War to allow for a vaccination campaign against polio. A confirmed case of the disease has been detected in the Gaza Strip, raising concerns about a potential outbreak.

Polio, a highly contagious and potentially paralyzing disease, has been eliminated from the Gaza Strip for the past 25 years. The recent detection of the virus in wastewater samples and the confirmed case in a 10-month-old baby indicate that the disease is circulating again.

The UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, stressed the urgent need for a “polio pause” to enable the vaccination of 640,000 children under the age of 10 in Gaza. He emphasized that “the ultimate vaccine for polio is peace and an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.”

Launching a successful vaccination campaign requires significant coordination and logistics. The UN is working to facilitate the transportation of vaccines, refrigeration equipment, and polio experts into Gaza. Reliable communication and infrastructure are also crucial for the campaign’s success.

The outbreak not only poses a threat to the children in Gaza but also to neighboring regions. Contaminated wastewater could spread the virus through shared water sources. The potential for a wider outbreak underscores the urgency of the ceasefire and vaccination campaign.

The UN appeals to all parties involved in the conflict to prioritize the health and well-being of children by agreeing to a ceasefire and ensuring the safe delivery and administration of vaccines.