As Israel continues to murder Palestinian children in Gaza, the UN steps forth to vaccinate the children from polio so Israel can kill polio-free Palestinian children later. Israel has agreed to this and has given fleeting pauses in its genocide, which allowed the UN to vaccinate 640,000 children against polio. The campaign aims to immunize all children under 10, capitalizing on these temporary halts in hostilities by the apartheid state. “So far, it’s going well, and the turnaround is really good,” said Salim Oweis, spokesperson for UNICEF, reflecting a grim irony amid the violence. The UN’s effort to prevent a polio outbreak is commendable, but it also serves as a stark reminder of the limitations of humanitarian action in the face of ongoing bloodshed.
Is There Enough Time to Save the Children?
The polio vaccination campaign, which started last Sunday, hinges on fragile agreements brokered with Israel for brief pauses in hostilities. These ceasefires, scheduled from 06:00 to 15:00 over three days, provide a narrow window to reach Gaza’s most vulnerable population. However, the ground realities are harsh – roads remain in ruins, access to certain areas is highly restricted, and medical facilities are struggling to stay operational amidst severe shortages of fuel and supplies.
UNICEF and local health officials are rushing to immunize at least 90% of the children under 10 within a compressed timeline, hoping to stop the virus from spreading further. Yet, the effectiveness of this campaign rests on the hope that these temporary truces will hold, a precarious and uncertain assumption in a region scarred by relentless conflict and an apartheid state’s attempts at ethnic cleansing.
Can Children Survive Both War and Disease?
While the UN’s mission to eradicate polio is vital, it underscores a grim irony: children in Gaza may be spared from a virus only to fall victim to the violence surrounding them. “You cannot lead and implement a polio vaccination campaign in an active combat zone. It’s simply impossible,” says Jonathan Crickx of UNICEF. Despite this, efforts continue in an attempt to prevent a potential health crisis amidst an already devastating humanitarian situation.
For families like that of Abdulrahman Abu Judyan, the first child to contract polio in Gaza in 25 years, the vaccination drive is both a necessity and a tragic irony. Abdulrahman’s mother, Niveen, shares her anguish over not being able to vaccinate her son earlier, a result of constant displacement due to the violence inflicted by Israel’s campaign of genocide. Watching her son suffer from paralysis, she clings to a fragile hope for a future where he can grow up healthy – not just free from disease, but also from the unending conflict that has upended their lives.
What Are the True Costs of Conflict?
The vaccination campaign is an urgent public health measure, but it also highlights the broader neglect of Gaza’s children amidst the ongoing war. The relentless conflict has severely strained health services, and many children have missed routine immunizations, increasing their vulnerability to diseases like polio. The same checkpoints that facilitate the movement of vaccines are also scenes of immense suffering, as families navigate a daily reality filled with danger, fear, and uncertainty.
More than 2,000 local workers and healthcare professionals are participating in the campaign, utilizing over 400 fixed vaccination sites and 230 community outreach sites. However, every moment is overshadowed by the threat of resumed violence, which could halt the campaign at any time.
Is a Polio Vaccine Enough to Protect Gaza's Children?
For the children of Gaza, the fight against polio may offer a glimmer of hope in a landscape defined by destruction and despair. The UN’s effort, while crucial, highlights a painful reality: in a place where even the most basic safety is out of reach, a vaccination campaign can seem like a hollow victory. With polio cases likely to increase, the stakes are high not only for Gaza but for the surrounding regions as well. But as long as the violence continues, any effort to save children from disease will be overshadowed by the constant threat of war.
The UN’s focus on this vaccination drive reflects a stark truth: in Gaza, saving lives is not just about protecting children from disease but also about shielding them from the violence that surrounds them. Until the bloodshed ends and the apartheid state of Israel ceases its genocide, no vaccine will be enough to guarantee the safety and future of Gaza’s children.
