Gaza city: The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has revealed a critical health issue, stating that one in five children in the Gaza Strip have missed essential vaccinations.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, this alarming statistic was shared by UNRWA in a recent post on X. The agency highlighted the impact of two years of conflict, noting that these conditions have led to significant gaps in the vaccination coverage for children in Gaza.
In response to this health crisis, UNRWA, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners, is initiating a catch-up immunization campaign. The campaign aims to reach approximately 44,000 children with essential vaccines and conduct malnutrition screenings.
UNRWA will play a crucial role in this campaign through its network of 24 health centers and medical points spread across the Gaza Strip. This initiative is part of a broader effort to restore vital healthcare services to the region's children.
The urgency of this campaign is underscored by demographic data showing that children constitute 47% of Gaza's population, amounting to approximately 980,000 individuals, as reported by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics in April.
The recent Israeli aggression over the past two years has severely impacted Gaza's healthcare infrastructure, leading to a near-total collapse of the health system. This situation has significantly disrupted immunization programs, leaving hundreds of thousands of children without their necessary vaccines.
