About 550,000 children have been vaccinated since the new round of polio immunization in Gaza

At the semi -weekly press conference of the United Nations agencies in Geneva, Dr. Rick Biberkorn, representative of the World Health Organization in the occupied Palestinian land, said that it was “Despite some rain and cold, parents brought their children to vaccination centers, while the mobile teams actively continued with local communities.”In the context of the campaign led by the Palestinian Ministry of Health in cooperation with the World Health Organization, the United Nations Children’s Organization (UNICEF), the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and other partners.

Biebercorn, who was speaking through the video from Gaza, explained that the campaign is taking place to stop the spread of the polio virus after the environmental samples from Deir Al -Balah and Khan Yunis, which were collected in December 2024 and January 2025, confirmed the continued spread of the polio virus. He added that the campaign is supported by 1660 vaccination teams and more than 1,200 workers in the field of social mobilization.

Better arrival

The UN official stated that two former vaccination tours in the Gaza Strip were successfully conducted in September and October 2024, reaching more than 95 percent of the targeted children. However, the vaccination teams faced great challenges in reaching certain areas in the center, north and south of Gaza, which required special coordination to enter during the conflict.

He pointed out that in the areas that were difficult to reach, such as Jabalia, Beit Lahia, and Beit Hanoun, where a human being was not guaranteed to the vaccination campaign, about 7,000 children have passed the vaccination during the second round in 2024. He added that these challenges “I left children of children with insufficient immunity, creating conditions for the continued transmission of the polio virus”Indicating that “The last ceasefire means that health workers now have a much better arrival.”.

Biberkorn said that “Sustainable peace is crucial not only for polio campaign, but also for all diseases that can be prevented with vaccines and ensuring the ability of all children to build their comprehensive immunity.”.

Medical evacuation

The representative of the World Health Organization on the occupied Palestinian land reported that from February 1 to February 24, 889 patients, including 335 children, were evacuated through the Rafah crossing.

Thus, the total number of patients who have been evacuated since October 2023 increases to 6295, including 4,640 children.

Biebercorn said that there is a need to expand the paths of medical evacuation, as the number of those in need of a medical evacuation is estimated between 12 and 14 thousand people.

Amazing losses

The UN official pointed to the total losses of the health sector in Gaza, estimated at about 6.3 billion US dollars, which greatly affected its functions and providing services. These losses are primarily attributed to the disruption of health care services and the loss of health human resources, including dead, wounded and displaced.

He said that the health sector is facing heavy losses in productivity, as more than 1700 health workers were reported, which led to an amazing loss of productivity amounting to $ 2.7 billion.

According to the World Health Organization, the Gaza Governorate endured the greatest burden of destruction, with an estimated damage of about 682 million US dollars, followed by significant losses in northern Gaza and Khan Yunis with total damage of $ 112 million and 132 million US dollars, respectively.