UAE aid boosts polio vaccination for over 187,000 children in Gaza

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been instrumental in accelerating the vaccination of over 187,000 children in Gaza as part of a large-scale polio immunization campaign. The initiative, carried out in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), comes after the first case of type 2 polio in Gaza in 25 years was reported.

Palestinian children awaiting their turn for the vaccinationReuters

President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan pledged $5 million to fund the emergency response, underscoring the UAE's commitment to providing relief to the Palestinian people.

The vaccination campaign aims to immunize 640,000 children, racing against time as Gaza grapples with widespread displacement, overcrowding, and severe damage to its healthcare, water, and sanitation systems due to the ongoing war. Supported by 2,100 medical personnel and mobile health units, around 1.26 million vaccine doses already delivered will be administered in phases. Each phase will last three days during brief humanitarian ceasefires in various regions, with an additional 400,000 doses expected soon.

A Palestinian mother with her childReuters

In addition to the vaccination drive, the UAE has provided critical medical assistance to Gaza, including the treatment of 1,000 injured children and 1,000 cancer patients at Emirates Humanitarian City. The country has also delivered over 40,000 tonnes of essential supplies to the region.

Further, through its participation in Operation Chivalrous Knight 3, the UAE has helped supply Gaza with 130 million gallons of clean water, sourced from six desalination plants in Egypt's Rafah, which collectively produce 1.6 million gallons per day. These efforts highlight the UAE’s enduring commitment to alleviating the hardships faced by the people of Gaza, particularly in the areas of health and medical care.