Polio vaccines for more than 1.2 million people have been delivered to the Gaza Strip, according to the Israeli agency responsible for coordinating the delivery.
Polio was detected in Gaza’s sewage water last month, meaning that thousands of Palestinians are now at risk of contracting the disease, which can cause paralysis.
The 25,100 vials of the vaccine were delivered via the Kerem Shalom Crossing, near the border with Egypt, according to officials with Israel’s Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT).
The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Ramallah has confirmed the doses arrived in Gaza. It noted earlier Sunday that the necessary equipment was in place to keep the vaccines cold during transportation.
COGAT said local and international medical teams would administer vaccines to unvaccinated children in Gaza “in the coming days” and would coordinate with the Israeli military to use “humanitarian pauses” allowing people to reach medical centers and get vaccinated.
The Palestinian health ministry called on international organizations to pressure Israeli authorities to halt their military operations in Gaza, stressing that it is essential for medical teams to vaccinate children and stop the spread of the polio virus.
Remember: Israel’s widespread bombing and ground offensive in Gaza after Hamas’ October 7 attacks, along with a tight siege on aid flowing into the territory, has led to a spiraling humanitarian crisis in the enclave.
Israel’s campaign to destroy Hamas continues in Gaza as it battles another Islamist militant group, Hezbollah, to the north in Lebanon.
Correction: A previous version of this post misstated where the vaccines were taken en route to Gaza.
