UNRWA calls for ‘humanitarian pauses’ to administer 2nd dose of polio vaccine to Gaza children
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) is calling for “humanitarian pauses” to provide children in Gaza with a second dose of polio vaccines.
Around 560,000 Palestinian children under 10 received the first dose as part of a polio vaccination campaign from September 1 to 12.
According to World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus, UNRWA and its partners have vaccinated hundreds of thousands of children, reaching 90% vaccination coverage.
He said the next challenge is to administer a second dose by the end of September.
On multiple occasions, the Israeli army has halted UN vehicles carrying vaccines and fuel amid its war on Gaza.
Last month, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a seven-day humanitarian cease-fire to allow the vaccination of 640,000 children.
The appeal followed the detection of the first confirmed polio case in Gaza.
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