Gaza: The World Health Organization (WHO) announced that 547,848 children under the age of 10 have been vaccinated since the launch of the new round of the polio immunization campaign in the Gaza Strip on Feb. 22, representing more than 92% of the total targeted children, of a total 591,000 children.
According to Qatar News Agency, WHO Representative in the occupied Palestinian territory Dr. Rik Peeperkorn explained during the bi-weekly press conference of the United Nations agencies in Geneva that this campaign comes within the framework of efforts to stop the spread of the polio virus. Environmental samples collected from Deir Al-Balah and Khan Yunis in Dec. 2024 and Jan. 2025 showed the presence of the virus.
The UN official noted that the two previous vaccination campaigns conducted in Sept. and Oct. 2024 immunized more than 95% of the targeted children. However, vaccination teams faced difficulties in reaching some areas, particularly in the center, north, and south of Gaza, due to security restrictions and military operations.
Dr. Peeperkorn highlighted that about 7,000 children in the Jabalia, Beit Lahia, and Beit Hanoun areas missed vaccinations during the second round in 2024, due to the absence of humanitarian truces. This resulted in areas with insufficient immune coverage, facilitating virus spread. The recent ceasefire has improved access for health workers, increasing the chances of successfully immunizing all children in the current campaign.
He emphasized the necessity of sustainable peace for the eradication of polio and ensuring vaccines for other preventable diseases, enabling all children to develop strong immunity.
Regarding the general health situation in Gaza, the WHO representative reported ongoing medical evacuations, with 889 patients, including 335 children, evacuated through the Rafah crossing between Feb. 1-24. Since Oct. 2023, 6,295 patients, including 4,640 children, have been evacuated.
Dr. Peeperkorn pointed to the urgent need for expanded medical evacuation corridors, estimating that 12,000-14,000 people require urgent evacuation.
The health sector in Gaza has suffered losses estimated at USD 6.3 billion due to the destruction of health infrastructure and loss of medical human resources, including workers killed, injured, or displaced.
He stressed that health sector productivity has declined sharply, with the loss of over 1,700 health workers causing economic losses estimated at USD 2.7 billion. The UN official called for strengthening the humanitarian response, ensuring the continuation of vaccination campaigns and health services, and supporting urgent reconstruction of Gaza's health sector.