New Delhi: The United Nations Relief and Work Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has once again called for a ceasefire in the ongoing Gaza war citing the outbreak of Polio.
“Very sad. @WHO confirms that a 10-month-old baby in #Gaza is now paralysed due to #Polio. The first case in more than 25 years. Polio will not make the distinction between Palestinian & Israeli children. Delaying a humanitarian pause will increase the risk of spread among children,” Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of United National Agency for Palestine Refugees posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday (August 23).
Lazzarini added that every child in Gaza under the age of 10 years must be vaccinated to prevent further outbreak of the disease.
Very sad. @WHO confirms that a 10-month-old baby in #Gaza is now paralysed due to #Polio. The first case in more than 25 years.
Polio will not make the distinction between Palestinian & Israeli children.
Delaying a humanitarian pause will increase the risk of spread among…Advertisement— Philippe Lazzarini (@UNLazzarini) August 23, 2024
“It is not enough to bring the vaccines into Gaza + protect the cold chain. To have an impact, the vaccines must end up in the mouths of every child under the age of 10. @UNRWA medical teams will deliver the vaccines in our clinics and through our mobile health teams,” said Lazzarini.
“Since the war began and with thx to these efforts, 80% of children across Gaza have received vaccines against different childhood diseases. We will continue. #CeasefireNOW.”
Gaza’s health ministry announced on Friday (August 17) that it had detected the coastal strip’s first case of polio in years, after a highly infectious vaccine-derived poliovirus Type-2 (VDPV2) was found in six sewage samples collected in late June from the Khan Younis and Deir al Balah camp areas.
