The World Health Organization (WHO) condemned the attack on the Sheikh Radwan primary health care center in northern Gaza. Despite humanitarian intervention, six people, including four children, were injured in the attack. The center was attacked when parents were taking their children to be vaccinated against polio. However, the IDF has denied claims by the World Health Organization and Hamas that it attacked a vaccination center in Gaza City today, wounding six people.
“We have received an extremely worrying report that the Sheikh Radwan primary health care center in northern Gaza was attacked today while parents were taking their children to be vaccinated against polio,” said the head of the World Health Organization , Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in a post on Twitter. . This is the area where a humanitarian pause was agreed to continue with vaccination. He said six people, including four children, were injured.
The ceasefire zone must be respected
He said these ceasefire zones must be fully respected. The third phase of a polio vaccination campaign began on Saturday in a part of the northern Gaza Strip, after having been postponed since October 23 due to lack of access and certainty, widespread humanitarian stalemate, intense bombing and mass evacuation orders.
impossible to vaccinate children
In a joint statement issued on Friday, the WHO and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said these circumstances have made it impossible for families to safely bring their children for vaccinations and organize campaign activities. The human resources necessary to carry out the operation have been secured.
limited to Gaza City
However, the containment area has been significantly reduced compared to the first round of vaccination held in northern Gaza in September 2024. The statement said it is now limited only to Gaza City. Approximately 15,000 children under the age of 10 remain inaccessible in the northern Gaza towns of Jabaliya, Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun, and will not be accessible during the operation in northern Gaza.
