World Health Organization (WHO) announced the successful completion of the first phase of the polio vaccination campaign in Gaza, which targeted around 200,000 children in central areas of the region. The children received their first dose of the vaccine amidst a challenging environment.

WHO described the situation in Gaza as catastrophic, noting the spread of diseases due to ongoing conflict and difficult living conditions.

The organization highlighted that the continued hostilities in Gaza, a region with a population of 2.4 million, have forced many families to flee their homes. The first polio case in 25 years was reported in mid-August, involving a 10-month-old infant.

Polio has been classified as a global health emergency since 2014, the highest level of alert issued by the WHO. The ongoing campaign aims to immunize over 640,000 children in Gaza, a region severely impacted by an 11-month-long aggression.

More than 500 medical teams, comprising 2,200 healthcare professionals and social workers, participated in the campaign, distributing vaccines across 143 designated sites.

In this context, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus praised the efforts of families and medical staff who contributed to the campaign's success despite the challenging conditions. He called for the continued respect of the humanitarian ceasefire and the pursuit of a permanent ceasefire.

As efforts continue to ensure that no child is deprived of the vaccine, WHO announced that vaccination operations will continue at four additional health centers in the coming days. The organization is also preparing to launch the second phase of the campaign today, aiming to vaccinate 340,000 children in southern Gaza over a four-day period.