UNICEF: Israel blocking syringes for child vaccines in Gaza

UNICEF has said Israel is withholding vital medical supplies needed to immunise children in Gaza, Reuters reported on November 11th.

The UN children’s agency UNICEF has said that essential items, including 1.6 million syringes and solar powered fridges, are being denied entry into the Gaza Strip by Israel and that they are obstructing a mass vaccination campaign for young children in the war-devastated territory.

UNICEF said that while a fragile ceasefire is in place, the operation to catch up on missed immunisations targeting more than 40,000 children under three who missed routine vaccines for polio, measles and pneumonia is being severely challenged by the hold up of supplies.

“Both the syringes and the … refrigerators are considered dual use by Israel and these items we’re finding very hard to get them through clearances and inspections, yet they are urgent,” said UNICEF spokesperson Ricardo Pires. “The vaccination campaign has started, but we have two rounds to go, and for that we need more supplies.”

UNICEF also noted that 938,000 bottles of ready-to-use infant formula and spare parts for water trucks are being denied entry. “That’s nearly one million bottles that could be reaching children who have been suffering from different levels of malnutrition,” Pires told a news briefing in Geneva. The agency said that the syringes were delayed in customs clearance since August.

Israel’s military body COGAT, which oversees aid entering Gaza, stated that it is not limiting the entry of food, water, medical supplies and shelter items.

The October 10th truce was expected to unleash a large surge of aid across the strip. For children in Gaza, the delayed supplies risk leaving them vulnerable to outbreaks of preventable diseases and worsening nutritional deficiencies. UNICEF’s warning reflects the urgent health stakes amid ongoing conflict and humanitarian disruption.

Reuters, Maghrebi.org