In a joint statement, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) called for a seven-day ceasefire to implement two rounds of vaccinations.

Such pauses in fighting would allow children and their families to reach health centers safely, it said.

They explained that the campaign will involve 708 teams and some 2,700 workers, who will provide two drops of the anti-polio vaccine to more than 640,000 children under ten years of age.

We need at least 95-percent vaccination coverage during each round to prevent the spread of the disease and reduce the risk of resurgence, the communiqué warned.

Palestinian Minister of Health Majed Abu Ramadan said last weekend that the process will begin in the coming days with support from numerous UN agencies.

Abu Ramadan blamed Israel for this crisis due to its aggression against Gaza, which has caused an unprecedented health catastrophe in the coastal enclave.

In this regard, he highlighted the increase in diseases there due to the lack of medicine, drinking water, healthcare services and the accumulation of waste in the streets and around crowded shelters.

UN Secretary General António Guterres called on Friday for a humanitarian ceasefire to kick off an anti-polio immunization campaign.

jg/jg/f/rob