AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): Israeli forces have struck a clinic during a polio vaccination campaign, injuring several Palestinian children in the Gaza Strip.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said six people, including four children, were injured following a strike on the Sheikh Radwan clinic on Saturday.
A humanitarian pause had been in place at the clinic to carry out the second and final round of the poliovirus vaccination, according to the WHO chief.
“We have received an extremely concerning report that the Sheikh Radwan primary healthcare center in northern Gaza was struck today while parents were bringing their children to the lifesaving polio vaccination in an area where a humanitarian pause was agreed to allow vaccination to proceed,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in a social media post.
He said a WHO team was at the site just before the strike.
“This attack, during a humanitarian pause, jeopardizes the sanctity of health protection for children and may deter parents from bringing their children for vaccination,” he said.
He insisted on the importance of not attacking the specified areas.
"These vital humanitarian-area-specific pauses must be absolutely respected. Ceasefire!"
UNICEF, the UN's children's agency which is helping to lead the vaccination rollout, condemned the strike on the Sheikh Radwan clinic.
“To overcome challenges posed by the volatile security situation and constant population movement, robust micro plans have been developed to ensure the campaign is responsive to the significant population shifts and displacement in the north following the first round in September,” it said in a statement.
The second phase of the vaccine rollout began on Saturday after being postponed in October due to intense Israeli bombardments, mass displacement and lack of access in the region.
Gaza recorded its first case of polio in 25 years in August, which left a baby boy paralyzed and prompted the rollout of the program.
In a separate incident in Jabalia, UNICEF said a car driven by a staff member “came under fire by what we believe to be a quadcopter”, according to the agency's head, Catherine Russell.
She said the driver was unhurt but was left “deeply shaken” and called for Israel to launch an investigation.
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