A child receiving a polio vaccine at a health clinic in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip. Credits: UNICEF/ Eyad El Baba

By Oritro Karim
UNITED NATIONS, Sep 10 2024 (IPS)

It has been nearly one year since the commencement of Israeli occupation in the Gaza Strip and living conditions for millions of children continue to grow more dire. The rampant spread of disease among children as well as the stagnant state of Gaza’s schooling system have been greatly aggravated by continued hostilities.

Polio, once thought to have been eradicated in the modern world, re-emerged in Gaza after a 25 year long absence. Infections were initially detected in sewage water samples in mid July from Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis. The middle of August was when the first known case of polio was observed in a ten month old child.

Three phases of a vaccination campaign have been launched by the United Nations (UN), focusing on the Central, Southern, and Northern sections of Gaza. The two of these orders, focusing on Central and Southern Gaza , have been completed, thanks to a seven day humanitarian pause, granted by Israeli authorities earlier this month.

“The initial round of the campaign is now almost 70 per cent complete – with more than 446,000 children vaccinated out of the 640,000 targeted during this first round of vaccinations – with the second round expected to start in four weeks’ time”, stated Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General, in a September 9, 2024 press briefing at the UN Headquarters.

During the second phase of the vaccination campaign, over 256,000 children in Khan Younis and Rafah had been vaccinated. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the third phase is set to begin tomorrow in Northern Gaza, targeting approximately 150,000 children.

Despite initial vaccination efforts having run relatively smoothly, new evacuation orders have been announced for regions that have yet to be accessed by aid personnel. The continuance of hostilities threatens to leave thousands of children unvaccinated in the midst of a health crisis.

UNICEF has stated that at least 95 percent coverage is needed to prevent the spread of polio and reduce chances of re-emergence due to compromised health, water, and sanitation systems.

Furthermore, armed conflict, repeated evacuation orders, and routine bombardment have taken a significant toll on Gaza’s educational system, impacting over 625,000 children.

Following the eruption of the Israel-Hamas War, all of the schools in Gaza were shut down. Palestinian children have been out of school for almost one year. This is a severe concern for the development of Palestine as an entire generation is being deprived of a crucial period for cognitive development.

“Humanitarian workers say the extended deprivation of education threatens long-term damage to Gaza’s children. Younger children suffer in their cognitive, social and emotional development, and older children are at greater risk of being pulled into work or early marriage”, stated Tess Ingram, regional spokesperson for UNICEF.

Ingram adds that the longer a student is out of school, the less likely it is for them to ever return. Juliette Touma, Director of Communications for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), states children who have been pulled out of school have higher chances of being recruited into armed groups.

Jesus Miguel Perez Cazorla, a mental health expert with the International Committee of the Red Cross, adds that children who experience a lack of schooling, especially when compounded with exposure to violence, are far more likely to develop anxiety.

Additionally, routine bombardment has led to thousands of schools becoming inaccessible for students. According to UNICEF, as of August 2024, 564 schools had been hit or damaged by Israeli attacks. This equates to 85 percent of all schools in Gaza.

“Bombed out buildings and walls, collapsing ceilings, gaping holes opening on rows of school desks and what used to be classrooms filled with boys and girls. They now require reconstruction or major rehabilitation to be functional again”, stated UNRWA.

UNRWA, which runs about half of Gaza’s schools, has turned the majority of the non-damaged educational facilities in Gaza into emergency displacement shelters. These shelters house thousands of displaced families.

In the interim of this nationwide educational crisis, humanitarian groups are providing recreational activities to children in shelters to supplement the lack of education. Although these activities are far less effective in developing social and cognitive skills in children than traditional schooling is, they keep the children engaged.

“Having safe spaces for children to gather to play and learn is an important step. Ultimately the children of Gaza must be able to return to learning curriculum from teachers in classrooms, with education materials and all the other support schooling provides”, Ingram said.

The UN is hopeful that a ceasefire is imminent so children can safely resume their education. However, even if conditions for a ceasefire are met, it will take decades to fully repair the damage that has been done to Gaza’s educational infrastructure.

IPS UN Bureau Report

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