A child receives a polio vaccination drop in Deir Al Balah in the central Gaza Strip on Wednesday. AFP
A child receives a polio vaccination drop in Deir Al Balah in the central Gaza Strip on Wednesday. AFP
A child receives a polio vaccination drop in Deir Al Balah in the central Gaza Strip on Wednesday. AFP
A child receives a polio vaccination drop in Deir Al Balah in the central Gaza Strip on Wednesday. AFP

No child in Gaza will be left unvaccinated against polio, Unicef regional director pledges


Mina Aldroubi
  • English
  • Arabic

Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza

No child in Gaza will be left unvaccinated against polio, a senior UN official said, as the second phase of a campaign to inoculate 640,000 in the besieged strip starts in the more challenging south on Thursday.

After three days of the campaign in central areas, almost 187,000 children received the first two doses of a recommended four, Adele Khodr, regional director of UN agency Unicef, told The National in an interview. The next stage will run from Thursday in the south and then move to the north where it is expected to conclude by Sunday.

“Even though the first phase of the campaign is over, we still have a few fixed sites that will remain operational to provide vaccinations for any remaining unvaccinated children,” Ms Khodr said. "We will do special co-ordination to enable the vaccination teams to reach pockets of unvaccinated children."

Gazan parents were “enthusiastic” about their children receiving the jab, helping ensure all those under the age of 10 become fully inoculated, she explained.

Israel agreed last week to pause its bombardment of certain areas for eight hours a day to allow more than 2,700 healthcare workers to immunise Gazan children after Gaza reported its first case of polio in 25 years. The campaign is being run by three UN agencies: Unicef, the World Health Organisation and the UN's Palestinian refugee agency, UNRWA.

A health worker holds a vial of polio vaccine being administered to children in Deir Al Balah in the central Gaza Strip. AFP
A health worker holds a vial of polio vaccine being administered to children in Deir Al Balah in the central Gaza Strip. AFP

Ms Khodr stressed that the uptake of the vaccine had been encouraging. Much of Gaza's healthcare system has been left in ruins following 11 months of Israeli bombardment. The UN official said many Gazans felt encouraged that something positive was finally happening in the territory.

“We are still noticing a lot of enthusiasm among the parents to come forward and vaccinate their children, and the mothers and parents with whom we have spoken to are saying that they are really very afraid of polio, because this is a crippling disease,” Ms Khodr emphasised.

If a child is impacted, they can suffer for life. The virus can cause paralysis and death.

“The level of trust in the vaccine, the level of trust in the campaign, is really very high,” she said. “I hope this will be a good step forward [towards] the next round, which is expected to start at the end of September, because you need to have at least 21 days between each vaccination.”

Ms Khodr remained focused on the current operation before turning her attention to the second round later this month. “At present, we want to make sure that this campaign finishes in a positive way, we are going step by step.”

Nine out of 10 Gazans have been forcibly displaced since the war began on October 7. Israel issued 16 eviction orders for civilians across the enclave in August. More than 40,800 people, mostly civilians, have been killed and at least 94,291 injured, according to Gaza's health authorities.

The vaccination campaign is underway despite failure to reach a truce deal between Hamas and Israel. The US on Wednesday said the negotiating process for a ceasefire in Gaza has been “pretty frustrating”, as disagreements continue over the exchange of Palestinian detainees for hostages.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE squad to face Ireland

Ahmed Raza (captain), Chirag Suri (vice-captain), Rohan Mustafa, Mohammed Usman, Mohammed Boota, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Waheed Ahmad, Zawar Farid, CP Rizwaan, Aryan Lakra, Karthik Meiyappan, Alishan Sharafu, Basil Hameed, Kashif Daud, Adithya Shetty, Vriitya Aravind

ELIO

Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett

Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina

Rating: 4/5

Australia World Cup squad

Aaron Finch (capt), Usman Khawaja, David Warner, Steve Smith, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Jhye Richardson, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Jason Behrendorff, Nathan Lyon, Adam Zampa

Match info

Australia 580
Pakistan 240 and 335

Result: Australia win by an innings and five runs

The biog

Name: Ayisha Abdulrahman Gareb

Age: 57

From: Kalba

Occupation: Mukrema, though she washes bodies without charge

Favourite things to do: Visiting patients at the hospital and give them the support they need.
Role model: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood.

 

The Sand Castle

Director: Matty Brown

Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea

Rating: 2.5/5

UK-EU trade at a glance

EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years

Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products

Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries

Smoother border management with use of e-gates

Cutting red tape on import and export of food

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

Elvis
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EU's%2020-point%20migration%20plan
%3Cp%3E1.%20Send%20EU%20border%20guards%20to%20Balkans%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E2.%20%E2%82%AC40%20million%20for%20training%20and%20surveillance%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E3.%20Review%20EU%20border%20protection%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E4.%20Reward%20countries%20that%20fund%20Balkans%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E5.%20Help%20Balkans%20improve%20asylum%20system%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E6.%20Improve%20migrant%20reception%20facilities%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E7.%20Close%20gaps%20in%20EU%20registration%20system%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E8.%20Run%20pilots%20of%20faster%20asylum%20system%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E9.%20Improve%20relocation%20of%20migrants%20within%20EU%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E10.%20Bolster%20migration%20unit%20in%20Greece%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E11.%20Tackle%20smuggling%20at%20Serbia%2FHungary%20border%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E12.%20Implement%20%E2%82%AC30%20million%20anti-smuggling%20plan%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E13.%20Sanctions%20on%20transport%20linked%20to%20smuggling%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E14.%20Expand%20pilot%20deportation%20scheme%20in%20Bosnia%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E15.%20Training%20for%20Balkans%20to%20deport%20migrants%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E16.%20Joint%20task%20forces%20with%20Balkans%20and%20countries%20of%20origin%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E17.%20Close%20loopholes%20in%20Balkan%20visa%20policy%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E18.%20Monitor%20migration%20laws%20passed%20in%20Balkans%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E19.%20Use%20visa-free%20travel%20as%20leverage%20over%20Balkans%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E20.%20Joint%20EU%20messages%20to%20Balkans%20and%20countries%20of%20origin%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
FIXTURES

Saturday
5.30pm: Shabab Al Ahli v Al Wahda
5.30pm: Khorfakkan v Baniyas
8.15pm: Hatta v Ajman
8.15pm: Sharjah v Al Ain
Sunday
5.30pm: Kalba v Al Jazira
5.30pm: Fujairah v Al Dhafra
8.15pm: Al Nasr v Al Wasl

The Pope's itinerary

Sunday, February 3, 2019 - Rome to Abu Dhabi
1pm: departure by plane from Rome / Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
10pm: arrival at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport


Monday, February 4
12pm: welcome ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace
12.20pm: visit Abu Dhabi Crown Prince at Presidential Palace
5pm: private meeting with Muslim Council of Elders at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
6.10pm: Inter-religious in the Founder's Memorial


Tuesday, February 5 - Abu Dhabi to Rome
9.15am: private visit to undisclosed cathedral
10.30am: public mass at Zayed Sports City – with a homily by Pope Francis
12.40pm: farewell at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
1pm: departure by plane to Rome
5pm: arrival at the Rome / Ciampino International Airport

IF YOU GO

The flights

FlyDubai flies direct from Dubai to Skopje in five hours from Dh1,314 return including taxes. Hourly buses from Skopje to Ohrid take three hours.

The tours

English-speaking guided tours of Ohrid town and the surrounding area are organised by Cultura 365; these cost €90 (Dh386) for a one-day trip including driver and guide and €100 a day (Dh429) for two people. 

The hotels

Villa St Sofija in the old town of Ohrid, twin room from $54 (Dh198) a night.

St Naum Monastery, on the lake 30km south of Ohrid town, has updated its pilgrims' quarters into a modern 3-star hotel, with rooms overlooking the monastery courtyard and lake. Double room from $60 (Dh 220) a night.

 

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Specs

Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request

Ain Issa camp:
  • Established in 2016
  • Houses 13,309 people, 2,092 families, 62 per cent children
  • Of the adult population, 49 per cent men, 51 per cent women (not including foreigners annexe)
  • Most from Deir Ezzor and Raqqa
  • 950 foreigners linked to ISIS and their families
  • NGO Blumont runs camp management for the UN
  • One of the nine official (UN recognised) camps in the region
Honeymoonish
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At a glance

Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.

 

Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year

 

Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month

 

Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30 

 

Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse

 

Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth

 

Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances

Jetour T1 specs

Engine: 2-litre turbocharged

Power: 254hp

Torque: 390Nm

Price: From Dh126,000

Available: Now

Updated: September 05, 2024, 6:18 AM`