Amid War, Polio Vaccination Campaigns Persevere in Gaza

Palestinians in Gaza are rallying to get their children vaccinated against polio amid ongoing conflict. The U.N. Palestinian refugee agency, UNRWA, facilitated the effort, with pauses in violence agreed upon by Hamas and Israel. Despite successes, the war continues, complicating further progress towards a permanent ceasefire.

Crowds of Palestinians gathered at medical centers in southern Gaza Strip on Thursday, eager to vaccinate their children against polio. This marks the second stage of a campaign that has successfully inoculated 187,000 youngsters so far.

The U.N. Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA reported the campaign's initial success, facilitated by temporary ceasefires negotiated between Hamas and Israel. However, the conflict rages on elsewhere in Gaza, with the health ministry reporting fatalities from Israeli airstrikes, including an attack on a hospital in central Gaza.

As vaccinations began in Rafah and Khan Younis, areas heavily impacted by the war, tens of thousands of displaced residents sought refuge. Despite these challenges, health officials aim to reach 640,000 children following a recent polio case. The battle for a permanent ceasefire continues as diplomatic efforts have yet to yield results.

(With inputs from agencies.)