As Gaza Endures a Prolonged War, a Resurgent Polio Outbreak Complicates Humanitarian Efforts
For nearly 11 months, Gaza has been ravaged by relentless conflict, leaving its population in dire conditions. Now, a new and urgent threat has emerged: polio. The resurgence of this crippling disease is exacerbating the already dire humanitarian situation in the region.
Under mounting international pressure, Israel has agreed to temporary and localized pauses in fighting to facilitate a vaccination campaign. This effort, aimed at preventing a full-blown polio outbreak, involves immunizing 640,000 children across Gaza. The pauses are set to start on Sunday, with both Israeli forces and Hamas agreeing to these temporary breaks in hostilities.
Despite this, the implementation faces significant challenges. Gaza’s infrastructure is severely damaged, and many residents are living in makeshift shelters. Aid workers have been targeted while delivering essential supplies, underscoring the difficulties in conducting relief operations.
Recently, an aid convoy in Gaza was hit by Israeli forces, resulting in the deaths of four people. The convoy was transporting food and fuel to a hospital and had coordinated with Israeli authorities. Israel claimed the convoy was used by armed individuals, while the nonprofit Anera, which organized the trucks, disputes this account.
The need for a vaccination campaign became critical after the World Health Organization detected traces of poliovirus in Gaza’s wastewater. The first confirmed case of polio in Gaza in 25 years was reported two weeks ago, amplifying the urgency for widespread immunization.
The potential outbreak adds to the immense humanitarian challenges faced by Gaza’s 2.2 million residents. It could also spark further international criticism of Israel’s wartime restrictions, which have severely impacted Gaza’s waste and water systems.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to the pauses. Netanyahu consented to brief, limited pauses but rejected a full cease-fire. The vaccination campaign will see phases of immunization in central, southern, and northern Gaza, with pauses in fighting to cover these areas.
A second round of vaccinations will be required four weeks after the initial doses. The virus in Gaza is believed to be a vaccine-derived Type 2 poliovirus, which can mutate and cause outbreaks if vaccination coverage is insufficient. The rate of polio vaccination in Gaza, once near 99%, has significantly dropped, making the current campaign critical.
Dr. Rik Peeperkorn of the World Health Organization emphasized the importance of the vaccination effort, noting that failing to act could lead to further spread of the disease both within and beyond Gaza.
