Vaccines Arriving in Gaza Not Enough to Control Epidemics, Palestinian Red Crescent Society Warns

Gaza, The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) has affirmed that the vaccines being sent to the Gaza Strip are inadequate and do not meet the minimum requirement to control epidemics in the enclave. In a statement on Saturday, PRCS highlighted that cutting health supplies and polio vaccines by the Israeli occupation exacerbates the spread of epidemics in the Strip, stressing that all age groups suffer from the consequences of the difficult health situation. On Friday, the Palestinian Ministry of Health confirmed a first case of polio virus in the Gaza Strip, specifically in the city of Deir Al-Balah, involving a 10-month-old child who had not received any vaccination against this disease. Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, has warned of the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza with the spread of polio virus threatening hundreds of thousands of children. Guterres indicated that the United Nations is preparing to launch a vital vaccination campaign against this disease in the region, benefiting more than 640,000 children under the age of ten. He also called for a humanitarian ceasefire to allow the United Nations to conduct the vaccination campaign. The 10-month Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip has engendered a health catastrophe, with corroborating evidence from international organizations. Also, the shortage of key cleaning essentials and drainage services, as well as accumulation of waste in streets and around displaced shelter centers, in addition to lack of safe drinking water have created an environment for the spread of numerous epidemics, primarily waterborne diseases, such as Vaccine-derived poliovirus. Source: Qatar News Agency