UN Aid Operations Halt in Gaza Amid New Evacuation Orders

United Nations aid operations in Gaza have been suspended following new Israeli evacuation orders for Deir Al-Balah. Despite the disruptions, UNRWA and other UN agencies continue to deliver essential services. The halt impacts a planned polio vaccination campaign for 640,000 children, scheduled to begin on Saturday.

United Nations aid operations in Gaza came to a standstill on Monday, following fresh Israeli evacuation orders for Deir Al-Balah, the site of the U.N. operations center, a senior U.N. official reported.

The order interrupts preparations for a polio vaccination campaign targeting 640,000 children, starting Saturday. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported the first type 2 poliovirus case in Gaza in 25 years, affecting a 10-month-old baby.

The senior U.N. official, speaking anonymously, stated, 'We're unable to deliver today with the conditions that we're in. As of this morning, we're not operating in Gaza.' Most U.N. personnel were previously relocated to Deir Al-Balah after an earlier Israeli evacuation order for Rafah. Now, the U.N. faces further relocations and operational challenges.

(With inputs from agencies.)