UN Suspends Gaza Aid Deliveries Amid Israeli Evacuation Orders and Polio Vaccination Efforts
News Mania Desk/Agnibeena Ghosh/27th August 2024
The United Nations has temporarily halted aid deliveries to Gaza due to safety concerns following new evacuation orders issued by the Israeli military. This development threatens to complicate the ongoing effort to launch a crucial polio vaccination campaign in the region. On Sunday, Israel’s military mandated further evacuations in parts of Deir Al-Balah, located in central Gaza. This new directive forced many displaced Palestinians to flee once again, complicating the UN’s plans to vaccinate over 640,000 children amidst rising fears about polio.
Earlier this month, health authorities in Gaza confirmed their first polio case in 25 years. This case involved a 10-month-old child who had not been vaccinated. The discovery followed a warning from the World Health Organization (WHO) in late June, which indicated that positive sewage samples in Gaza suggested an imminent risk of widespread infection. Polio, a highly contagious virus primarily affecting children under five, can lead to severe outcomes including paralysis and death.
In response to the polio outbreak, over 1.2 million vaccine doses have been delivered to Gaza through the Kerem Shalon crossing, as reported by COGAT, the Israeli agency overseeing aid approval. This vaccination effort, spearheaded by WHO and UNICEF, was set to proceed in coordination with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). However, according to a senior UN official, the recent evacuation orders have forced the UN to suspend aid deliveries temporarily, complicating the vaccination campaign.
The resurgence of polio highlights the dire situation faced by Gaza’s 2 million residents, who have been enduring severe conditions under Israeli bombardment since October last year. With a significant portion of the population internally displaced, and many lacking access to food, medical supplies, and clean water, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza remains severe. The situation is exacerbated by the fact that up to 90% of the population is displaced, underscoring the profound challenges faced by aid organizations working in the region.
Despite the suspension of aid deliveries, UNRWA, the UN’s primary relief agency in Gaza, and the Palestinian Ministry of Health are continuing preparations for the vaccination campaign. UNRWA Director of Communications Juliette Touma stated that delivering humanitarian assistance remains one of the most challenging tasks for the UN at present. The Palestinian Ministry of Health has announced that the vaccination campaign will begin shortly, with efforts being made to procure an additional 400,000 doses to ensure coverage for 95% of children under ten.
The ongoing Israeli military operations have posed significant risks to the movement of health care workers, complicating efforts to carry out the vaccination campaign. The UN has expressed its commitment to maintaining operations in Gaza despite the obstacles, emphasizing the critical need to continue aid and health interventions. However, the recent evacuation orders have forced the UN to consider relocating its operations once again, adding to the logistical challenges of providing humanitarian assistance in the conflict-ridden area.
As the situation evolves, the UN and its partners continue to strive towards safeguarding the health and wellbeing of Gaza’s children amid an increasingly complex humanitarian landscape.
