UNITED NATIONS, Sep 10 (IPS) – It has been almost a year since Israel began occupying the Gaza Strip and the living conditions of millions of children continue to worsen. The rampant spread of disease among children and the deteriorating state of Gaza’s schools have been widely publicized as a result of the ongoing war.
Polio, thought to have been eradicated in the modern world, has reappeared in Gaza after a 25-year absence. The infection was first detected in sewage samples in mid-July from Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis. In mid-August, the first known case of polio was seen in a ten-month-old child.
Three phases of the vaccination campaign were launched by the United Nations (UN), focusing on the central, southern, and northern parts of Gaza. Both of these orders, focused on Central and Southern Gaza, have been completed, thanks to a seven-day break, granted by the Israeli authorities earlier this month.
“The first round of this campaign has been completed by almost 70 percent – as more than 446,000 children have been vaccinated out of the 640,000 targeted in this first round of vaccination – and the second round is expected to start in four weeks”, said Stéphane Dujarric. , Spokesman for the Secretary-General, at a press conference on September 9, 2024 at the UN Headquarters.
During the second phase of the vaccination campaign, more than 256,000 children in Khan Younis and Rafah were vaccinated. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the third phase is expected to start tomorrow in Northern Gaza, targeting about 150,000 children.
Although initial vaccination efforts have gone well, new evacuation orders have been announced for areas not yet reached by aid workers. The continuation of the war threatens to leave thousands of children unimmunized amid a health crisis.
UNICEF stated that at least 95 percent coverage is needed to prevent the spread of polio and reduce the likelihood of re-emergence due to poor health, water, and sanitation systems.
In addition, armed conflict, repeated evacuation orders, and regular bombardment have had a major impact on Gaza’s education system, affecting more than 625,000 children.
After the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas War, all schools in Gaza were closed. It’s been almost a year since Palestinian children have been out of school. This is of great concern to the development of Palestine as every generation is deprived of an important period of intellectual development.
“Humanitarian workers say the widespread deprivation of education threatens long-term harm to children in Gaza. Young children suffer in their mental, social and emotional development, while older children are at greater risk of being forced into work or marriage at a young age”, said Tess Ingram. , UNICEF regional spokesperson.
Ingram adds that the longer a student stays out of school, the less likely they are to come back. Juliette Touma, Director of Communications of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), says that children who have been taken out of school are more likely to be recruited into armed groups.
Jesus Miguel Perez Cazorla, mental health specialist of the International Committee of the Red Cross, adds that children who lack school, especially when combined with exposure to violence, are more likely to have anxiety.
In addition, the regular bombing has resulted in thousands of schools being inaccessible to students. According to UNICEF, as of August 2024, 564 schools had been hit or damaged by Israeli attacks. This is equivalent to 85 percent of all schools in Gaza.
“Buildings and walls have been blown up, ceilings collapsing, holes opening in the rows of school desks and what used to be classrooms full of boys and girls. Now they need to be rebuilt or seriously renovated to be functional again”, said UNRWA.
UNRWA, which runs about half of Gaza’s schools, has turned most of Gaza’s undamaged educational facilities into emergency shelters. These shelters house thousands of displaced families.
Amid this nationwide education crisis, humanitarian organizations are providing recreational activities to children in shelters to supplement the lack of education. Although these activities are less effective in developing children’s social and cognitive skills than traditional education, they keep children engaged.
“Having safe places to gather children to play and learn is an important step. Finally, the children of Gaza must be able to return to the curriculum from the teachers in the classrooms, with educational materials and all other school support materials provided”, said Ingram.
The UN hopes that the shooting will stop so that the children can continue their education in safety. However, even if conditions for a ceasefire are reached, it will take decades to fully repair the damage done to Gaza’s educational infrastructure.
IPS UN Bureau Report
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© Inter Press Service (2024) — All Rights ReservedOriginal source: Inter Press Service
