The World Health Organisation (WHO) has condemned an attack on the Sheikh Radwan primary health care centre in northern Gaza, where six people, including four children, were injured during a humanitarian pause. The centre was struck while parents were bringing their children for polio vaccinations.
Sharing a post on X, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus wrote, “We have received an extremely concerning report that the Sheikh Radwan primary health care centre in northern #Gaza was struck today while parents were bringing their children to the life-saving #polio vaccination in an area where a humanitarian pause was agreed to allow vaccination to proceed. Six people, including four children, were injured.”
We have received an extremely concerning report that the Sheikh Radwan primary health care centre in northern #Gaza was struck today while parents were bringing their children to the life-saving #polio vaccination in an area where a humanitarian pause was agreed to allow… pic.twitter.com/YaFL6pQT3c
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) November 2, 2024
Tedros added that this recent attack during a humanitarian pause has “jeopardised the sanctity of health protection” for children and could deter parents from seeking vaccinations for their kids. “A @WHO team was at the site just before. This attack, during humanitarian pause, jeopardises the sanctity of health protection for children and may deter parents from bringing their children for vaccination,” his post said.
He emphasized the need for these humanitarian pauses to be fully respected, urging, “These vital humanitarian-area-specific pauses must be absolutely respected. Ceasefire!”
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The third phase of the polio vaccination campaign commenced on Saturday in parts of northern Gaza after being postponed from October 23 due to limited access, lack of consistent humanitarian pauses, intense bombardment, and evacuation orders.
In a joint statement released on Friday, WHO and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) explained that these circumstances had made it “impossible for families to safely bring their children for vaccination and to organise campaign activities.”
The statement noted, “The humanitarian pause necessary to conduct the campaign has been assured; however, the area of the pause has been substantially reduced compared to the first round of vaccination in northern Gaza, conducted in September 2024. It is now limited to just Gaza City.”
Approximately 15,000 children under ten in towns across North Gaza, including Jabalia, Beit Lahiya, and Beit Hanoun, remain inaccessible and will be missed during this campaign, which may impact its overall effectiveness.
This phase of the campaign in northern Gaza follows successful implementation of the first two phases of the second round in central and southern Gaza, reaching 451,216 children, representing 96 percent of the target in those areas.
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