In a monumental effort, Israel’s military announced the delivery of polio vaccines to Gaza for over 1 million people, following the first confirmed case of the disease in the territory in 25 years.

Despite ongoing fighting and unrest in Gaza, more than 25,000 vials of vaccine have been sent to the region, where other suspected cases of polio have emerged after the virus was detected in several locations in July.

Aid groups are working to vaccinate over 600,000 children under 10, calling for a temporary ceasefire to boost vaccination efforts. The World Health Organization and UNICEF stress the need for a seven-day pause in the conflict to facilitate vaccination initiatives.

With the aim of bringing 1.6 million doses of the polio vaccine to Gaza, organizations are racing against time to immunize vulnerable populations living in unsanitary conditions without proper access to healthcare.

Polio, a highly contagious disease, poses a severe threat, especially to young children, and can have devastating consequences if left untreated. The vaccination campaign aims to prevent a potential outbreak that could exacerbate the already dire situation in Gaza.

Despite the challenges, international and local medical teams are working tirelessly to administer vaccines at various locations in Gaza, supported by Israel’s military as part of humanitarian efforts to provide essential healthcare services amidst the conflict.

The crisis in Gaza has strained the healthcare system, but with the support of WHO and UNICEF, the vaccination campaign is determined to reach every part of the territory, ensuring that no child is left unprotected against polio.

Before the conflict, Gaza had achieved a high vaccination rate against polio. However, the current situation has caused a drop in immunization coverage, highlighting the urgency of vaccination campaigns to prevent the spread of the disease.

For more updates on the situation in Gaza, follow AP’s war coverage here.