The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Wednesday its plan to immunize over 40,000 children in Gaza against multiple diseases, taking advantage of the current ceasefire.
Since November 9, WHO and its partners have vaccinated more than 10,000 children under three during the first phase of the campaign.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said phase one has been extended until Saturday, aiming to protect children from measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B, tuberculosis, polio, rotavirus, and pneumonia.
Phases two and three, in partnership with UNICEF, UNRWA, and Gaza’s health ministry under Hamas, are scheduled for December and January. Tedros welcomed the ceasefire, noting it allows critical health services to resume and supports the reconstruction of Gaza’s heavily damaged health infrastructure.
The truce follows US President Donald Trump’s plan, endorsed by the UN Security Council on Monday, which brought an October 10 ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Despite the truce, sporadic violence continues in Gaza, devastated by over two years of hostilities triggered by Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack in Israel.
That assault claimed 1,221 Israeli lives, primarily civilians. In retaliation, Israeli military operations killed over 69,500 Palestinians, with the Gaza health ministry reporting that more than half of those deaths were women and children.
What you should know
The WHO has launched a vaccination campaign in Gaza to immunize over 40,000 children amid the ongoing ceasefire with Israel.
More than 10,000 children under three have already been vaccinated, with the campaign covering diseases including measles, polio, and pneumonia. Phases two and three are planned for December and January in partnership with UNICEF, UNRWA, and Gaza’s health ministry under Hamas.
The ceasefire, facilitated by US President Donald Trump and endorsed by the UN, has allowed critical health services to resume. Gaza remains heavily affected by over two years of conflict, with many civilian casualties reported on both sides.
