During the polio vaccination campaign in Northern Gaza, which began on Saturday, 2 November 2024, during a humanitarian pause in hostilities, the Sheikh Radwan primary healthcare centre in northern Gaza was struck by shelling. The attack occurred as parents were bringing their children to the facility for polio vaccinations. Further east, in the Jabaliya refugee camp, two residential buildings were destroyed by aerial strikes in the preceding days. In a separate incident, the personal vehicle of a UN International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) staff member involved in the vaccination campaign was reportedly targeted by a quadcopter in the Jabaliya-Al Nazla area.

The victims of the attack at Sheikh Radwan included six civilians, four of whom were children, present at the healthcare centre to receive vaccinations aimed at protecting them from polio. The injured children and their families were already among the most vulnerable due to the ongoing violence in Gaza. Meanwhile, the strike in Jabaliya reportedly killed over 50 children who had sought shelter in the targeted residential buildings. UNICEF staff, dedicated to delivering essential health services, also became targets of violence, suffering material damage only. These incidents, occurring amidst escalating hostilities between Israeli forces and Hamas, underscore the indiscriminate nature of violence that continues to impact civilians and vital health infrastructure in the region.

International organisations have condemned the targeting of healthcare centres and personnel, calling for increased protection of healthcare facilities and workers in conflict zones. UNICEF's Executive Director, Catherine Russell, urged all parties to respect humanitarian pauses and stressed the importance of adhering to international law to prioritise the protection of children. She called on Israel to investigate the circumstances surrounding the attacks on the healthcare centre and the UNICEF staff member, ensuring accountability for those responsible. Russell also appealed to states to leverage their influence to safeguard humanitarian operations and prioritise the safety and well-being of civilians in conflict zones. "It is beyond time to end this war," she declared, urging global action to uphold the sanctity of humanitarian efforts.

To read more, please visit:

• https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/11/1156451
• https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/11/1156441
• https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/second-round-polio-campaign-gaza-completed-amid-ongoing-conflict-and-attacks-unicef

by David-Jan Middelkoop