Around 602.000 children in the Gaza Strip are at risk of “paralysis” due to ongoing Israeli attacks and the blockade, the Palestinian Ministry of Health has announced. It stated that the Israeli blockade and attacks in the Gaza Strip have deepened the humanitarian crisis.
It was warned that a new health catastrophe is at the doorstep for children in the region, and it was emphasized that Israel’s blocking of the entry of polio vaccines into Gaza poses a major risk of an epidemic.
“Around 602.000 children in the Gaza Strip are at risk of permanent paralysis and chronic disability. Preventing the entry of vaccines will lead to serious destruction not only of the health system but also in the social and economic spheres,” the Ministry stated.
It was noted that all health work carried out over the past seven months could be in vain due to these obstacles.
They called on relevant international institutions and humanitarian organizations to pressure Israel and allow the entry of vaccines.
The Ministry also emphasized the need to open safe humanitarian corridors in order to ensure access to children in various parts of the Gaza Strip.
They added that failure to resolve the vaccine crisis could lead to permanent health disasters in the region that will last for many years.
In her assessment of the health situation in Gaza, which is under intense Israeli attacks during World Health Week from April 7th to 13th, World Health Organization (WHO) spokesperson Margaret Harris emphasized that they have witnessed a serious deterioration in health, especially among mothers and babies in Gaza since October 7th.
“Around 90 percent of pregnant and breastfeeding women and thousands of babies are severely malnourished. Many are in need of treatment. Currently, no medical supplies or food are entering Gaza. Mothers and babies are already suffering, and the situation is getting worse every day,” Harris added, Federalna writes.
