The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) highlighted in X that the vaccination began in the central part of the coastal enclave.

It is a race against time to reach just over 600,000 minors in that territory, Unrwa’s commissioner general, Philippe Lazzarini, said on the same social network.

“For this to work, the parties to the conflict must respect the temporary pauses in the areas. For the sake of children throughout the region, a lasting ceasefire is necessary,” he stressed.

The United Nations Children’s Fund made a similar statement, pointing out that the campaign will benefit some 640,000 minors.

The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office denied the day before an agreement for a three-day truce in the territory, as demanded by several countries, the UN and non-governmental organizations.

Although the campaign officially kicked off on Sunday, Gaza’s health authorities yesterday announced the start of the process, despite shelling by the army.

The initiative was taken after the first case of the disease in 25 years was confirmed in the Strip.

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