WHO chief reports injuries in Gaza vaccination center attack

The head of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, announced that “six people, including four children, were injured” when a polio vaccination center was struck on Saturday in northern Gaza.

Dr. Tedros did not specify the nature of the “attack” or who was responsible for it. He reported via X, “The Sheikh Radwan primary health center in northern Gaza was hit… while parents were bringing their children to receive the life-saving polio vaccine, in an area where a humanitarian pause had been agreed upon to allow the continuation of vaccinations.”

A member of Gaza’s civil defense reported to the AFP that at least three people were injured by debris when an Israeli drone launched a missile that hit the health center’s wall in the western part of Gaza City. The Israeli military denied targeting the health center, stating, “An initial examination of the allegation showed that the military did not conduct a strike in the area at the time mentioned,” while reiterating their involvement in coordinating the vaccination campaign.

The vaccination drive resumed on Saturday in northern Gaza, where intensive Israeli military operations are ongoing. The WHO and UNICEF assured that the sites designated for vaccinations, where parents can take their children to receive the second dose of the oral vaccine, would be safe.

According to the WHO, approximately 119,000 children in northern Gaza are awaiting the second dose of this vaccine to protect against a disease that can have severe consequences. The WHO initiated the vaccination campaign in Gaza on September 1 after the first polio case was confirmed in the area after 25 years under an Israeli blockade. This is the only case identified to date, but the threat posed by the disease necessitated immediate action.

Health authorities estimate that 90% of children must be vaccinated to eliminate the risk of disease spread. Over 560,000 children under ten received the first dose of the vaccine during the first phase of the campaign.