Save the children
The recent polio vaccination campaign in Gaza highlights the critical need for more than just temporary pauses in military activity. As health officials work tirelessly to protect children from a reemerging polio threat, Israel's brief eight-hour humanitarian pauses are far from sufficient. Yanti Soeripto, president of Save the Children US, rightly pointed out the practical challenges of vaccinating children during an ongoing conflict. The constant threat of bombings and displaced families make it nearly impossible to ensure children receive the full two-dose course necessary to protect them from paralysis.Gaza has been polio-free for 25 years, but now, due to deteriorating health and sanitation conditions, this disease has returned. The tragic irony is that while children are being vaccinated against one deadly threat, they remain vulnerable to another—war. As one resident, Ghada Judeh, said, "We can protect our children from disease, but not from IDF terrorist strikes."
A permanent ceasefire is the only true solution to ensure the safety of Gaza’s children and the success of essential public health initiatives. We must urge the international community to act swiftly and demand an end to this devastating conflict. Only then can we safeguard the lives and futures of these innocent children.
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