A scaled-down polio vaccination campaign took off on Saturday, November 2, 2024, amid the ruins of northern Gaza, where intense Israeli bombardments have made health efforts increasingly perilous. Palestinian health officials reported children receiving the second dose of the oral polio vaccine, following alarming reports of rising cases of the disease, the first confirmed case of which had been identified just months earlier.
The campaign is the latest effort to combat polio, which was eradicated from Gaza for two and a half decades before re-emerging amid the chaos of war. This resurgence of polio marks the unfortunate continuation of deteriorated health conditions driven by persistent violence and blockade. It has left the healthcare system stumbling, making vaccination drives not just necessary, but urgent.
Over 43,000 people have reportedly died since the conflict intensified following Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. The humanitarian outlook remains dire, with hundreds of thousands displaced and widespread shortages of food, water, and medical supplies. UNICEF emphasized how the informal ceasefire allowing this vaccination campaign is another indication of the life-threatening consequences of the violence impacting civilians and healthcare initiatives.
UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO) reported targeting 100,000 children throughout the Gaza Strip to receive their vaccines, but logistical challenges prioritized only certain areas for immunizations. Initial projections suggested around 119,000 children would receive doses, but with the current safety concerns, the actual accessibility is much lower.
Last month, the WHO confirmed the first case of polio infection in Gaza since 1999, involving a baby who was left partially paralyzed. This shocking return of the disease has inspired renewed efforts to immunize children against crippling illness, but less than 10% of the targeted vaccination numbers have so far been achieved amid the conflict.
The situation took another grim turn recently when the Sheikh Radwan clinic came under fire during the vaccination drive, resulting in casualties among children. Specifically, six individuals were injured, including four children. The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) refuted claims they were involved, insisting they were not active near the clinic at the time. Rather, they claimed it needed to investigate the circumstances surrounding the clinic’s attack.
According to WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the vaccination center was struck even as parents were bringing their children for potentially life-saving treatments. “This is unacceptable,” he stated, demanding clarity and accountability.
After significant delays, the vaccination campaign finally resumed under negotiation for safe passages. UNICEF reported about 58,600 children were vaccinated on the first day of the resumed vaccination drive, which is scheduled to conclude on November 4. Still, challenges anticipated—specifically fears of violence—could compromise the facilities’ availability.
“While the health teams conducted the immunization effort, everyone involved remained at risk. The campaign is about saving lives, but the realities on the ground render this incredibly challenging,” said UNICEF’s Catherine Russell. Reporting from the ground provides both hope and fear, especially as the rising humanitarian toll denotes bloodshed and grief.
Families are grappling with the daily tension and uncertainty of life under bombardment. Hundreds of people are too afraid to leave their homes, and between areas claimed by Israeli bombardments and lack of accessible routes, significant local populations remain unreachable for necessary vaccinations. The health system has nearly crumbled; it is functioning only at base ability, relying heavily on fragments of international aid draped to go around the challenges posed by the war.
Reports indicate rampant malnutrition, especially among children, which also presents obstacles for vaccination campaigns, as traditional immunization methods prove inadequate for sick and malnourished children. The emphasis on securing adequate healthcare quickly correlates with minimizing the social impacts of the war, and this Hospitalization System has not only inaccessible to doctors and staff but also fails to secure its usual operations.
Israel's Ministry of Defense maintains it is monitoring the situation and remains committed to ensuring humanitarian aid reaches those affected on both sides. Besides UNICEF, their efforts include working alongside other UN agencies to coordinate assistance, demonstrating the increased international influence seen during this crises yet struggling against local laws and broad safety measures.
Despite the enormous obstacles, humanitarian organizations echo the need for urgency. They plead with the international community to dedicate resources to access health and nutrition supplies as these families continue to bear the brunt of the fallout from the war. “The time for negotiation and earnest effort to address the teachings from this humanitarian crisis is pressing,” Russell continued, “hanging on to the basic necessities of life amid the demolishing ruins.”
While the scars of war continue to terrorize the individuals within Gaza, efforts are unwavering to provide safety for children and prevent the re-emergence of preventable diseases like polio. The hopes for both peace and health remain interwoven within the international community set against the backdrop of uncertainty, yet real-life challenges pound the door, reminding everyone involved of the fervent need for change.
