STORY: Polio vaccination campaign kicks off in Gaza amid conflict
SHOOTING TIME: Sept. 1, 2024
DATELINE: Sept. 2, 2024
LENGTH: 00:02:09
LOCATION: GAZA, Palestine
CATEGORY: HEALTH

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Palestinian children receiving their doses of poliovirus vaccination
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): IYAD AL-JABRI, Director of al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah    
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): SAEED SOBH, Palestinian citizen

STORYLINE:

A polio vaccination campaign started in the Gaza Strip on Sunday as over 2 million people in the Palestinian enclave are still grappling with a severe humanitarian crisis due to the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel.

The campaign began in central Gaza, including the city of Deir al-Balah and the refugee camps of al-Nuseirat, al-Maghazi, and al-Bureij. The second phase is scheduled for September 5 in southern Gaza's Khan Younis, with northern Gaza set to be covered on September 9.

The United Nations has delivered 1.2 million doses of the oral polio vaccine to innoculate approximately 640,000 children.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): IYAD AL-JABRI, Director of al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah
"After the Israeli army destroyed the health sector in the Gaza Strip, the presence of the polio virus was discovered. Therefore, the Palestinian Ministry of Health, in cooperation with the World Health Organization, UNICEF and UNRWA, launched a campaign to vaccinate children against the polio virus. About 1,260,000 doses of the polio vaccine arrived in the Gaza Strip to vaccinate (640,000) children. The campaign started in the central governorates, then four days in Khan Yunis and four days later in the northern areas."

SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): SAEED SOBH, Palestinian citizen
"I came here to give my son a dose of the polio virus vaccine. Children are suffering greatly due to the spread of diseases and the lack of necessary cleaning materials."

The first confirmed case of polio in Gaza in 25 years was reported in Deir al-Balah in mid-August. Jihan Mansour, 29, expressed relief after her children received their vaccinations. Mansour said that she was initially hesitant but felt reassured after confirming the vaccine's safety.

Mohammed Abu Rahma, director of Public Care at the Red Crescent Society, noted that preparations for the campaign began immediately following the discovery of the polio case. He emphasized the importance of vaccination as the primary prevention method for polio.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) reported that more than 1,000 of its employees are participating in the campaign. Sam Rose, acting director of UNRWA Operations in Gaza, stated that teams would be working across clinics, health points, and shelters to administer vaccines.

UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini expressed gratitude to the UN teams involved and urged the creation of a permanent ceasefire to ensure the success of the vaccination campaign.

In a statement Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office dismissed reports of a general ceasefire for vaccination. The statement confirmed only the existence of a humanitarian corridor and designated safe areas for vaccine administration.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Gaza, Palestine.
(XHTV)