UN Polio Vaccination Campaign Faces Disruption in Gaza Amid Ongoing Humanitarian Crisis

As the UN prepares to commence a polio vaccination campaign in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, a U.N. humanitarian worker in the region voiced concerns over multiple evacuation orders issued by the Israeli military, describing them as "completely disruptive to the humanitarian response on the ground." Louise Wateridge, the UN humanitarian worker, highlighted the negative impact of these evacuation orders on the ability of humanitarian workers to carry out their operations effectively. She emphasized that the frequent relocations forced upon humanitarians disrupted their work, leading to operational halts while they relocated.

Frequent Evacuations Disrupt Humanitarian Efforts

Wateridge, as reported by CBS News partner network BBC News, shed light on the distressing situation faced by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), the U.N. agency that operates in the Palestinian territories and serves as the largest primary healthcare provider in the Gaza Strip.

She disclosed that UNRWA had been ordered to evacuate its facilities at least 15 times in August alone, which amounted to an evacuation order approximately once every two days. This relentless cycle of evacuations imposed significant challenges on the agency's ability to deliver crucial humanitarian aid and healthcare services to the affected population. The ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas militant group has further exacerbated the situation on the ground.

The impact of the conflict is evident in the devastated infrastructure within the Gaza Strip. Eyewitness accounts described an elderly man holding a child's hand as they walked past a building that had been reduced to rubble from Israeli bombardment in the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza Strip on a recent date.

Wateridge lamented the dire consequences of the evacuation orders, stating, "There's health centers, there's schools where people are sheltering from, there's headquarter buildings, there's distribution centers. All of these buildings that we're working from, we have to move everything out of, move personnel, move aid, move any operations that are ongoing, patients and so on." She emphasized the grave implications of these disruptions, stating, "Lives are being lost, people are not receiving aid. It's just a complete disaster for us trying to do our jobs on the ground."

IDF Operations and Population Displacement

In response to the ongoing violence, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated their commitment to dismantling terrorist infrastructure and eliminating threats. The IDF accused Hamas of utilizing civilian infrastructure, such as schools and hospitals, to conceal weapons and militant activities.

The conflict has forced the population of Gaza into an increasingly restricted humanitarian zone designated by the Israeli military. Recent evacuation orders have further reduced the available area, leaving the humanitarian zone at approximately 11% of the size of the Gaza Strip, as reported by the U.N. This reduction has resulted in an overcrowded area where several hundred thousand displaced individuals have been compelled to seek refuge, raising concerns over living conditions and the potential spread of diseases.

Polio Outbreak and Vaccination Campaign

Amidst the ongoing humanitarian crisis, a polio outbreak has been reported in Gaza, with the first confirmed case in 25 years last week. The 10-month-old child was reported to have paralyzed one leg and is currently in a stable condition, according to UNICEF. In response to the resurgence of polio, the U.N. has scheduled a campaign to vaccinate approximately 95% of children under the age of ten in Gaza, with the first batch of vaccines already arriving in the enclave.

Wateridge acknowledged the challenges of initiating the polio vaccination campaign amid the chaotic circumstances, including ongoing bombings and displacement orders. She highlighted the difficulties faced by humanitarian workers in reaching children and providing the necessary healthcare under such challenging conditions.