عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Arab World

69% of Gaza Children Get 1st Polio Vaccine Dose

Polio vaccine administered in Gaza (Photo: AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Polio vaccine administered in Gaza (Photo: AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
TT
TT

69% of Gaza Children Get 1st Polio Vaccine Dose

Polio vaccine administered in Gaza (Photo: AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Polio vaccine administered in Gaza (Photo: AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

The Palestinian Health Ministry on Sunday announced that 69% of the Gaza Strip’s children, aged one day to 10 years, received the first dose of the polio vaccine.

The ministry said in a statement published by the Palestinian News and Info Agency, WAFA, that the children received their first doses after 7 days since the launch of the first round of the vaccination campaign in the governorates of Deir al-Balah, Khan Yunis and surrounding areas.

The campaign has so far administered the vaccine to 441,647 children, as of Saturday evening. This includes 49% females and 51% males.

The vaccination campaign will continue in the governorates of Gaza and North Gaza, read the statement.
It added that the teams of the Palestinian Health Ministry, UNRWA, the World Health Organization, and UNICEF are continuing their efforts in the vaccination campaign despite the ongoing Israeli aggression on the Strip and the significant challenges posed by the current security situation affecting the movement between vaccination centers.

Last month, Palestinian health officials reported the first case of polio in an unvaccinated 10-month-old child in the Gaza city of Deir al-Balah, the first case in 25 years in the coastal enclave that has been engulfed in the Israel-Hamas war since Oct. 7.

His family, who had to be displaced repeatedly due to the war, said that they were never able to vaccinate him, like many children in the Gaza Strip.

Most Viewed

 
 
Arab World

Erdogan Says Türkiye Can ‘Crush’ All Terrorists in Syria

Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gives a press conference during the G20 Leaders' Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on November 19, 2024. (AFP)
Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gives a press conference during the G20 Leaders' Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on November 19, 2024. (AFP)
TT
TT

Erdogan Says Türkiye Can ‘Crush’ All Terrorists in Syria

Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gives a press conference during the G20 Leaders' Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on November 19, 2024. (AFP)
Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gives a press conference during the G20 Leaders' Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on November 19, 2024. (AFP)

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned on Wednesday that Türkiye had the power and ability to "crush" all terrorists in Syria, including ISIS and Kurdish militants, while urging all countries to "take their hands off" Syria.

Since last month's fall of Bashar al-Assad, Türkiye has said repeatedly it was time for the Kurdish YPG militia to disband. Ankara considers the group, which spearheads the US-allied Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), as a terrorist organization.

Ankara has said the new Syrian administration must be given an opportunity to address the YPG presence, but also threatened to mount a new cross-border operation against the militia based in northeast Syria if its demands are not met.

Speaking in parliament, Erdogan said the YPG was the biggest problem in Syria now, and added that the group would not be able to escape its inevitable end unless it lays down its arms.

"Regarding fabricated excuses like ISIS, these have no convincing side anymore," Erdogan said, referring to the US position that the YPG was a key partner against ISIS in Syria and that it plays a vital role guarding prison camps where the extremist militants are kept.

"If there is really a fear of the ISIS threat in Syria and the region, the biggest power that has the will and power to resolve this issue is Türkiye," he said.

"Everyone should take their hands off Syria and we, along with our Syrian siblings, will crush the heads of ISIS, the YPG and other terrorist organizations in a short time."

Türkiye has repeatedly asked its NATO ally the United States to halt support for the SDF, and has said the new administration in Syria had offered to take over the management of the prisons.