Gaza : The UN calls for “humanitarian pause” to vaccinate children against Polio
NEW YORK (United Nations) – The UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, called for a “humanitarian pause” in Gaza to facilitate the supply and access to Polio vaccination.
Speaking to journalists at the UN headquarters on Friday, Mr. Guterres called for “assurances to be provided immediately, while warning that preventing and containing the spread of the Polio virus in the Strip would require a massive, coordinated, and urgent action.”
“Let us be clear, the ultimate vaccine against Polio is peace and an immediate humanitarian ceasefire,” Guterres said.
“Either way, a pause in the fight against Polio is essential. It is impossible to carry out a vaccination campaign against Polio while war rages everywhere,” he added.
“At least 95% vaccination coverage will be necessary for each of the two phases of the campaign to prevent the spread of Polio in Gaza,” said Mr. Guterres. He stressed that “a successful campaign would require the facilitation of transport, the refrigeration of equipments at each stage, the entry of Polio experts into Gaza, internet services and reliable telephone lines, as well as other elements.”
Polio was detected in wastewater in Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis, said Hamid Jafari, a specialist in polio at the WHO, during a press conference earlier this month, adding that it was likely that the virus had been circulating since September.
