After months of relentless bombardment, Israel agreed to limited “humanitarian” pauses to permit polio vaccination in the Gaza Strip. However, the pauses will be selective.
According to World Health Organisation (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the pauses will be implemented from Sunday, 1 September. The goal will be to vaccinate 640 000 in the city-turned-battlefield.
“What is now most important is to ensure both the security and access needed to implement the campaign effectively,” said acting under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, Joyce Msuya.
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Healthcare in Gaza
For months, human rights groups and activists have demanded a ceasefire in Gaza. Since 7 October, Israel’s genocidal campaign has killed 40 602 people, and brought the Palestinian territory’s healthcare system to the brink.
This week, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) opened a field hospital in central Gaza after occupation forces ordered the evacuation of Al-Aqsa Hospital. It noted a “severe lack of supplies and resources”.
“There is a cumulative impact to the dismantling of Gaza’s healthcare system by Israeli forces,” said Juliette Seguin, MSF emergency coordinator.
“Each health structure dismantled increases the pressure on those remaining, while decreasing people’s access to healthcare. Without an immediate and sustained ceasefire, the notion of a true medical humanitarian response is an illusion.”
Three pauses will take place from 6am to 3pm (03:00 to 12:00 GMT), each lasting for three days in different areas. Even if the polio vaccine reaches children in Gaza, missiles might too.
Picture: ISTOCK
