٠٠:٠٤:١٧Parents were seen queuing with their children at Deir al Balah health centre in central Gaza on Sunday, as a number of UN agencies began rolling out the large-scale polio youth vaccination programme.
"This is the first day," explained Louise Wateridge, media spokesperson from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). "It is starting phase one in the middle area (central Gaza) and we will try to reach 156,000 children with polio vaccination in the next three or four days."
"After this, we will spread the vaccination campaign into phases two and three to the southern and northern areas. We need a 90 percent success rate," she continued.
Footage shows youngsters receiving the first dose of the vaccine, with a second scheduled for four weeks later.
"I have vaccinated my three children, and I am optimistic, God willing, that these supplies will continue to reach […everyone…] because we suffer a lot from the lack of water and cleaning supplies entering the area," said Sabrin Shubaira.
"I am a father and like all fathers, I fear for my children from the harsh conditions we are suffering due to war, the intense heat, and all the diseases we are facing," added Khalil Al-Bardawil. "This brings a sense of relief."
It comes after the enclave reported the first case of polio in 25 years last month, with an 11-month-old boy left paralysed.
"As you can see, there is an incredible turnout," Wateridge added. "We need to continue this momentum. We need families to come. We need to vaccinate all children to prevent a very dangerous disease."
The combined effort between the WHO, UNICEF and UNRWA, along with the Palestinian Health Ministry, aims to reach 640,000 children across Gaza.
The Gaza Health Ministry announced the rollout on Saturday, while the initial campaign will run from September 1-12. Health authorities previously reported the detection of the virus in samples from Khan Younis and Deir al-Balah in July 2024.
On Wednesday, UNICEF announced that a shipment of nearly 1.2 million doses of polio vaccine had arrived for Gaza at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv.
Polio is a highly infectious disease that can lead to paralysis. It primarily spreads through faecal matter or via contaminated water or food.
On Thursday, the WHO reported that it had agreed limited pauses in the ongoing military action with Israel, to facilitate the rollout. Fighting in the enclave between Israel and Hamas is in its 11th month.
'We must reach 90 percent of children!' - Polio vaccination drive in Deir al Balah as Gaza begins huge rollout
Parents were seen queuing with their children at Deir al Balah health centre in central Gaza on Sunday, as a number of UN agencies began rolling out the large-scale polio youth vaccination programme.
"This is the first day," explained Louise Wateridge, media spokesperson from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). "It is starting phase one in the middle area (central Gaza) and we will try to reach 156,000 children with polio vaccination in the next three or four days."
"After this, we will spread the vaccination campaign into phases two and three to the southern and northern areas. We need a 90 percent success rate," she continued.
Footage shows youngsters receiving the first dose of the vaccine, with a second scheduled for four weeks later.
"I have vaccinated my three children, and I am optimistic, God willing, that these supplies will continue to reach […everyone…] because we suffer a lot from the lack of water and cleaning supplies entering the area," said Sabrin Shubaira.
"I am a father and like all fathers, I fear for my children from the harsh conditions we are suffering due to war, the intense heat, and all the diseases we are facing," added Khalil Al-Bardawil. "This brings a sense of relief."
It comes after the enclave reported the first case of polio in 25 years last month, with an 11-month-old boy left paralysed.
"As you can see, there is an incredible turnout," Wateridge added. "We need to continue this momentum. We need families to come. We need to vaccinate all children to prevent a very dangerous disease."
The combined effort between the WHO, UNICEF and UNRWA, along with the Palestinian Health Ministry, aims to reach 640,000 children across Gaza.
The Gaza Health Ministry announced the rollout on Saturday, while the initial campaign will run from September 1-12. Health authorities previously reported the detection of the virus in samples from Khan Younis and Deir al-Balah in July 2024.
On Wednesday, UNICEF announced that a shipment of nearly 1.2 million doses of polio vaccine had arrived for Gaza at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv.
Polio is a highly infectious disease that can lead to paralysis. It primarily spreads through faecal matter or via contaminated water or food.
On Thursday, the WHO reported that it had agreed limited pauses in the ongoing military action with Israel, to facilitate the rollout. Fighting in the enclave between Israel and Hamas is in its 11th month.
Parents were seen queuing with their children at Deir al Balah health centre in central Gaza on Sunday, as a number of UN agencies began rolling out the large-scale polio youth vaccination programme.
"This is the first day," explained Louise Wateridge, media spokesperson from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). "It is starting phase one in the middle area (central Gaza) and we will try to reach 156,000 children with polio vaccination in the next three or four days."
"After this, we will spread the vaccination campaign into phases two and three to the southern and northern areas. We need a 90 percent success rate," she continued.
Footage shows youngsters receiving the first dose of the vaccine, with a second scheduled for four weeks later.
"I have vaccinated my three children, and I am optimistic, God willing, that these supplies will continue to reach […everyone…] because we suffer a lot from the lack of water and cleaning supplies entering the area," said Sabrin Shubaira.
"I am a father and like all fathers, I fear for my children from the harsh conditions we are suffering due to war, the intense heat, and all the diseases we are facing," added Khalil Al-Bardawil. "This brings a sense of relief."
It comes after the enclave reported the first case of polio in 25 years last month, with an 11-month-old boy left paralysed.
"As you can see, there is an incredible turnout," Wateridge added. "We need to continue this momentum. We need families to come. We need to vaccinate all children to prevent a very dangerous disease."
The combined effort between the WHO, UNICEF and UNRWA, along with the Palestinian Health Ministry, aims to reach 640,000 children across Gaza.
The Gaza Health Ministry announced the rollout on Saturday, while the initial campaign will run from September 1-12. Health authorities previously reported the detection of the virus in samples from Khan Younis and Deir al-Balah in July 2024.
On Wednesday, UNICEF announced that a shipment of nearly 1.2 million doses of polio vaccine had arrived for Gaza at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv.
Polio is a highly infectious disease that can lead to paralysis. It primarily spreads through faecal matter or via contaminated water or food.
On Thursday, the WHO reported that it had agreed limited pauses in the ongoing military action with Israel, to facilitate the rollout. Fighting in the enclave between Israel and Hamas is in its 11th month.