“Very sad. @WHO confirms that a 10-month-old baby in #Gaza is now paralysed due to #Polio. The first case in more than 25 years. Polio will not make the distinction between Palestinian & Israeli children. Delaying a humanitarian pause will increase the risk of spread among children,” Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of United National Agency for Palestine Refugees posted on X on Friday (August 23).
The United Nations Relief and Work Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has urged for a ceasefire in the ongoing Gaza war, citing the outbreak of Polio.
Very sad. @WHO confirms that a 10-month-old baby in #Gaza is now paralysed due to #Polio. The first case in more than 25 years.
Polio will not make the distinction between Palestinian & Israeli children.
Delaying a humanitarian pause will increase the risk of spread among…— Philippe Lazzarini (@UNLazzarini) August 23, 2024
A 10-month-old baby has been partially paralysed after contracting polio in Gaza, United Nations officials have said. According to reports, baby, who was unvaccinated, is said to be in a stable condition after developing paralysis in one leg.
In its 11th month of war, Gaza had not registered a polio case for 25 years, although type 2 poliovirus was detected in samples collected from the territory’s wastewater in June.
Lazzarini stressed the need for vaccinating children under 10 and demanded an immediate ceasefire so that the vaccine could reach every child.
“It is not enough to bring the vaccines into Gaza + protect the cold chain. To have an impact, the vaccines must end up in the mouths of every child under the age of 10.
@UNRWA medical teams will deliver the vaccines in our clinics and through our mobile health teams. Since the war began and with thx to these efforts, 80% of children across Gaza have received vaccines against different childhood diseases.”
We will continue.
#CeasefireNOW
