Gaza/Panjab Post
Israeli airstrikes overnight have claimed the lives of at least 12 individuals across Gaza, according to local health and emergency officials. This escalation in violence coincides with a critical polio vaccination campaign aimed at curbing a potential outbreak in the region.
The vaccination effort, initiated in response to Gaza’s first polio case in 25 years, is underway despite the challenging circumstances of ongoing conflict. The campaign, conducted by the UN health agency alongside various partners, seeks to immunize approximately 640,000 children under ten years old. It represents a crucial endeavor in the face of Gaza’s devastated healthcare infrastructure.
Currently in its final phase in southern Gaza, the campaign is set to continue through Monday in the northern regions. Health workers have established numerous vaccination points in cities such as Khan Younis and Rafah to facilitate access for families.
In parallel, Israeli military operations continue to impact the region heavily. In Nuseirat, the Al-Awda Hospital reported receiving nine bodies from two separate air raids. One raid hit a residential building, resulting in four deaths and at least ten injuries, while the second targeted a house, killing five.
Further north, Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah reported the deaths of a woman and her two children in a strike on Bureij refugee camp. Additionally, a strike on a makeshift shelter in Jabaliya resulted in four fatalities and around 20 injuries, as reported by Gaza’s Civil Defence authority.
The situation remains dire, with health and emergency services strained under the dual pressures of conflict and disease prevention efforts.