Four children among six injured in attack on Gaza vaccination centre

A Palestinian boy collects spilled flour at the site of an Israeli airstrike in Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah in the Gaza Strip. Pic/AFP

The World Health Organisation (WHO) condemned the 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 targeted while parents were bringing their children for polio vaccinations.

Sharing a post on X, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO 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."

He further said that the recent attack during a humanitarian pause has "jeopardised the sanctity of health protection" for kids, and may also deter parents from bringing their children in for crucial vaccination. "A @WHO team was at the site just before. This attack, during the humanitarian pause, jeopardises the sanctity of health protection for children and may deter parents from bringing their children for vaccination," the post said.

He added, "These vital humanitarian-area-specific pauses must be absolutely respected. Ceasefire!" The third phase of the polio vaccination campaign began on Saturday in part of the northern Gaza Strip after being postponed from October 23 due to a lack of access and assured, comprehensive humanitarian pauses, intense bombardment, and mass evacuation orders.

In a joint issued on Friday, the WHO and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) had said that these conditions made it impossible for families to safely bring their children for vaccination and to organise campaign activities. "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, the statement said.

Around 15,000 children under ten years in towns in North Gaza like Jabalia, Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun still remain inaccessible and will be missed during the campaign, compromising its effectiveness. The campaign in northern Gaza followed the successful implementation of the first two phases of the second round in central and southern Gaza, which reached 4,51,216 children - 96 per cent of the target in these areas.

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