International Organization: Mass Disability Threatens Gaza Children Unless Vaccinated Against Polio

Alexandra Sayeh, head of humanitarian policy at Save the Children International, warned that polio could lead to "mass disability" if the disease that has begun to spread in Gaza is not treated.

In an interview with Anadolu Agency, Sayeh pointed out the importance of launching a large-scale vaccination campaign and a ceasefire following the discovery of the first case of polio in Gaza in 25 years.

She stressed that the first case of polio, which appeared on August 16, was "a direct result of the failure to deliver essential supplies to Gaza and the destruction of infrastructure, as a result of the systematic blockade imposed by Israel on humanitarian aid."

She pointed out the overcrowding of the shelters where people are taking refuge, and the spread of various epidemic diseases, especially hepatitis A, in the past few months, and the latest of which is polio.

The risk of disease outbreak

The London-based Save the Children official said negotiations were ongoing to get polio vaccines into Gaza, but "because of the bombing, health workers are unable to deliver these vaccines."

She pointed out the danger of transmitting the virus to a greater number of children if vaccinations are delayed.

“Every hour that vaccines are delayed, we will see children at risk,” she said. “Polio can cause complete paralysis within hours.”

"More than 600,000 children under the age of 10 are scheduled to be vaccinated, and we still need a ceasefire," she added.

"If this is not allowed, it could lead to mass disability for children," she added.

She pointed out the various difficulties in vaccinating children in Gaza, including "the continuous displacement of children with their families to save themselves."

Disease crosses borders

“If there is a large-scale epidemic, children outside the borders will also be affected,” Saieh explained of the seriousness of the situation.

She pointed out that "the lack of a safe place in Gaza will make the process of administering the vaccine difficult."

“Polio knows no borders,” she said. “If there is a large-scale epidemic, it will not only affect children in Gaza, but also children beyond Gaza and in the region.”

She pointed out that the main challenge facing international relief organizations in the region is the "security problem."

"There is no safe place for civilians in Gaza, and there is no safe place for aid workers. In the past 10 months, more than 280 aid workers, most of them Palestinians, have arrived in Gaza," she added.

She stressed that aid organizations are being "systematically" prevented from delivering vital supplies, and that Save the Children has been waiting for four months for vital medical supplies to be delivered to the area to treat children.

She explained that Israel has refused to allow many pieces of equipment, including water purifiers, generators and X-ray machines, into the Strip through crossing points in the past few months.

She expressed her astonishment at the images of injuries in Gaza, and the damage to children's bodies caused by explosive weapons.

"I've worked all over the world. It's really horrific. Children are not just being killed, they're being killed in the most horrific way possible, being torn apart," she said.

"Families are forced to collect the remains of their children. All of this is done using weapons from foreign sources," she added.

She stressed that this is why many international organizations, including Save the Children, have called on governments to stop arms sales to Israel.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health announced the discovery of the first case of polio in the Gaza Strip on August 16.

"The discovery of one case of polio in the Gaza Strip means that there may be hundreds of cases that have not yet been discovered," said Health Minister Majed Abu Ramadan.

The World Health Organization also expressed deep concern about the emergence of a polio case in Gaza after 25 years, noting that genome sequencing confirmed that the virus is related to "poliovirus type 2", which was discovered in environmental samples collected from Gaza sewage last June.

Anatolia