UNRWA Warns of Repercussions of Delaying Humanitarian Truce in Gaza on Spread of Polio

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) warned Friday of the risks of a delayed humanitarian truce in the Gaza Strip on the further spread of polio among Palestinian children. Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the UN agency, said in a post on X platform, that delaying a humanitarian pause will increase the risk of polio spread among children, saying is "very sad.. World Health Organization (WHO) confirms that a 10-month-old baby in #Gaza is now paralysed due to Polio. The first case in more than 25 years." He noted that this case is the first of its kind in the Strip in more than 25 years, stressing that bringing vaccines to Gaza is "not enough." The UN official also explained that UNRWA medical teams will provide vaccines in its clinics and through its mobile health teams in the Strip, noting that since the beginning of the war, 80 percent of children across Gaza have received vaccines against various childhood diseases. Earlier, 20 international relief organiza tions and health workers stressed the need to deliver polio vaccines to Gaza as soon as possible, noting that vaccines for this disease are available in the Middle East and are ready for distribution in August and September, but achieving this requires full access for humanitarian aid supplies to Gaza through and within all border gates. The Ministry of Health in Gaza on August 16 announced the registration of the first confirmed case of polio in the Strip. Source: Qatar News Agency