Palestinians fleeing from the southern Gaza city of Rafah during an Israeli ground and air offensive in the city on Tuesday, May 28, 2024. (AP/Abdel Kareem Hana)
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U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged all parties involved in the Gaza conflict to provide immediate and concrete assurances for humanitarian pauses to allow for a polio vaccination campaign, Reuters reports.
Addressing reporters at the United Nations on Friday, Guterres emphasized the urgency of the situation, highlighting the need for a massive and coordinated effort to prevent and contain polio in the Gaza Strip.
Related Story: Mediators Hold New Gaza Cease-Fire Talks and Hope to Head Off a Wider War
“Let’s be clear: The ultimate vaccine for polio is peace and an immediate humanitarian ceasefire,” Guterres stated. “But in any case, a polio pause is a must. It is impossible to conduct a polio vaccination campaign with war raging all over.”
The Palestinian health ministry reported Friday the detection of the first confirmed case of polio in Gaza, involving a 10-month-old baby in Deir Al-Balah who had not received any polio vaccinations.
Related Story: Israeli Strikes on Gaza Leave Children Without Parents and Parents Without ...
Guterres announced that the U.N. is ready to initiate a polio vaccine campaign targeting children under 10 in Gaza, but acknowledged the significant challenges ahead. He noted that achieving at least 95% vaccination coverage during each of the campaign’s two rounds is crucial to controlling the disease’s spread.
To ensure the campaign’s success, Guterres outlined the need for reliable transport for vaccines and refrigeration equipment, the entry of polio experts into Gaza, and consistent internet and phone services, among other requirements.
Read more at Reuters.Â
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