UNICEF Accuses Israel of Blocking Vital Syringe โคDelivery to โฃGaza, โฃthreatening โChildโ Vaccinations
Gaza City/Jerusalem – โคUNICEF stated Tuesdayโ that israelโ is preventingโ the entry of one million syringes desperately neededโข to vaccinateโ children in Gaza, jeopardizing routine immunization โprograms adn raising the riskโข of preventable disease outbreaks.The blockage comes amid ongoing conflict and โa severe humanitarian crisis in the โregion.
The denial of entry for this essential medicalโ supply impactsโ the health of approximately โ700,000 children โunder the age of five in Gaza, according โto โฃUNICEF. โฃRoutine vaccinationsโ protectโค against diseases like measles, polio, and diphtheria, and disruptions to theseโ programs can have devastating consequences, especially for vulnerable populations already facing immense hardship. The agency โis urgently appealing for access to deliver the syringes โขand ensure continued protection โขforโ Gaza’s children.
“Theโค denial of this shipment is profoundly concerning,” said Lucia Elmi, โUNICEF’s Special Representative for โIsraelโฃ and โคthe โStateโค of Palestine, in โa statement. “Vaccines are life-saving, andโค denying access to essential medical supplies is a grave violation of โขchildren’s โrights.”
Israeli authorities have not yet publicly responded to UNICEF’s accusations. However, Israel maintains tight control over the movement ofโ goods and people in โคand out of Gaza, โฃciting security concerns related to Hamas, the militant group that controls the territory.
The situation is โfurther complicated byโ the ongoing conflict โbetween Israel and โฃHamas,โค whichโข has severely strained Gaza’s healthcare system. Hospitals are overwhelmed, medical supplies are dwindling,โ and accessโ to healthcare is limited for โmany residents. โ UNICEF warnedโ that a prolongedโข disruption to vaccination programs could โleadโ to a โresurgence of preventable diseases,โ exacerbating the already dire humanitarian situation.
The agency emphasized that the requested syringes are a standard medical โsupply and pose no security threat. They are crucial for administering vaccines procured through theโ Global Allianceโข for โขVaccines and Immunisation (GAVI) and are intended for routine childhood immunizations, not for any other purpose. โ UNICEF continues to engage with Israeli authorities to secure immediateโ access โขand prevent a public health crisis in Gaza.
