Families flocked to war-damaged hospitals, clinics, and schools, while mobile teams moved through tent encampments in Gaza, as the United Nations launched a polio vaccination campaign for children under 10. At least 86,000 children were vaccinated on the first day of the campaign, according to Juliette Touma, communications director with the United Nations Palestinian refugee agency Unrwa. Some 27,000 health workers are involved in this effort.

Salim Oweis, a spokesman for UN children's fund Unicef, stated in a BBC interview that the initial phase in the central Deir al-Balah area aimed to vaccinate 57,000 children. The campaign, divided into three phases ending the following Monday, faces significant logistical challenges because of the ongoing conflict and the lack of a steady power source in Gaza, making the refrigeration of vaccines difficult.

Israel and Hamas agreed on three localized eight-hour pauses in fighting to facilitate the vaccination process. This agreement followed the urgent need to prevent a polio outbreak after 10-month-old Abdel-Rahman Abu-Jedian became the first polio case in Gaza in 25 years. His situation underscores the potential danger facing hundreds of children who might be infected without showing symptoms.

Juliette Touma emphasized the complexity of the campaign, describing it as a test for conflicting parties to respect ceasefire agreements, enabling Unrwa and other medical workers to administer the vaccines. Israel permitted the delivery of 126 million vaccine doses, with additional doses expected soon.

In a formal statement, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's office highlighted the importance of preventing a polio outbreak to avoid spreading the epidemic regionally. Despite the humanitarian effort, intense fighting continues, complicating the vaccination campaign.

The humanitarian pauses in fighting allow medical teams to reach children in various parts of Gaza, but the overall success hinges on respectful adherence to ceasefire agreements. Multiple organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), are involved in this massive immunization effort. However, the ongoing conflict and destroyed infrastructure pose significant hurdles.

Among the displaced, Abu Al-Qambaz, a doctor in Khan Younis, reported increasing fears among parents about polio as they bring their children for vaccinations. The destroyed health infrastructure in Gaza means only a fraction of hospitals and primary health centers are functional, putting immense pressure on the vaccination campaign.

The vaccination effort aims to reach a target of 640,000 children, following the detection of poliovirus in wastewater samples in several parts of Gaza. Combined with deteriorating sanitation conditions due to the war, there is an increased urgency to complete the campaign rapidly. More than 2180 health workers have been trained to administer vaccines and inform the public about the campaign's importance.

This concerted effort by international organizations aims to achieve a 90% vaccination rate to avert a large-scale outbreak, which could have devastating consequences not only for Gaza but for the broader region. WHO and other agencies have earmarked over 400 sites for vaccination and mobilized 300 teams to reach the most inaccessible areas, illustrating the campaign's scale and complexity.

The vaccination campaign in Gaza underscores the critical intersection of health and conflict, highlighting how war exacerbates public health crises. The situation in Gaza serves as a stark reminder of the broader humanitarian implications of persistent hostilities and the urgent need for comprehensive ceasefire agreements to enable essential humanitarian work.

The campaign has so far seen significant participation, with thousands of children vaccinated each day, supported by detailed planning and international cooperation. However, the logistics of conducting such a campaign amid ongoing conflict remain formidable. The constant threat of renewed hostilities complicates the situation further, emphasizing the need for sustained humanitarian access and support.

Ultimately, while the immediate goal is to prevent a polio outbreak, the long-term resolution lies in ending the conflict and rebuilding Gaza's health infrastructure, ensuring children and families have access to essential health services without the looming threat of war.