Polio Vaccination Campaign Launched in Northern Gaza Amidst Tensions

Polio Vaccination Campaign Initiated in Northern Gaza

Polio vaccinations commenced on Tuesday in northern Gaza, as reported by health officials in the region. This development came just hours after the principal U.N. aid agency operating in the enclave accused the Israeli military of detaining its convoy at gunpoint during its journey to the area.

According to Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the U.N. agency UNRWA, Israeli forces halted a convoy comprising both international and local staff from various U.N. agencies shortly after they crossed the Wadi Gaza checkpoint on Monday. The convoy was held for over eight hours, during which Lazzarini stated that the team was threatened with detention. He also noted that armored U.N. vehicles in the convoy sustained “heavy damage” from bulldozers. Lazzarini expressed concern over whether the vaccination campaign could proceed as planned on Tuesday.

However, on Tuesday morning, the Gazan Ministry of Health announced that the vaccination efforts had indeed begun in the northern region and were scheduled to continue through Thursday. This initiative is part of a broader campaign aimed at preventing an outbreak of the highly contagious disease among children in Gaza.

The Israeli military later issued a statement explaining that the convoy was detained based on intelligence suggesting the presence of “Palestinian suspects” within it. They emphasized that the detention was necessary for questioning, although they did not immediately respond to inquiries regarding the specifics of the incident.

This episode underscores the significant challenges facing the polio vaccination campaign, which was launched just over a week ago, amidst ongoing tensions and logistical difficulties in the region.