WHO Reports Significant Vaccination Gaps for Children in Gaza Amid Ongoing Conflict

The World Health Organization (WHO), in partnership with UNRWA and UNICEF, has disclosed that one in five children under the age of three in the Gaza Strip has not received essential vaccinations over the past two years, largely attributed to the ongoing conflict and the Israeli blockade.

This interruption in vaccination services poses a serious risk to thousands of children, exposing them to preventable diseases such as measles, polio, and diphtheria. This is particularly concerning given the near-total collapse of the healthcare system and severe shortages of medicines and medical supplies.

In response, international organizations have initiated a catch-up vaccination campaign aimed at approximately 44,000 children. This effort includes the provision of life-saving vaccines, nutritional assessments, treatment, and growth monitoring at 150 health centers and medical points across the region.

According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, children represent about 47% of Gaza's population, which amounts to around 980,000 children. The disruption of vaccination programs poses a direct threat to health security in the area.

The Director General of the Ministry of Health in Gaza characterized the situation as a "health genocide," underscoring the urgent need to protect the most vulnerable children from outbreaks of infectious diseases and malnutrition.