The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), UNRWA, and other partners, has already delivered 1.2 million doses of type 2 polio vaccine to Gaza.
Far-right elements of the coalition are adamantly opposed to any form of truce or relief for Gaza’s Palestinian population, but aid agencies have made it clear that the polio outbreak, the first in Gaza for 25 years, would almost certainly spread to Israel if not contained immediately.
Thursday's announcement follows the confirmation of the first polio case in the Palestinian territory in 25 years after a baby contracted the virus.
Described as “humanitarian pauses” that will last three days in different areas of the conflict-ravaged territory, the vaccination campaign will start Sunday in central Gaza.
It’s absolutely critical that this vaccination campaign is executed in a few days – between five to seven days is what we are asking for,
I'm not going to say that this is the ideal path forward, but it is a feasible path forward, ... It will happen and should happen, because we have an agreement."