Gaza health crisis escalates as children's vaccines run out

In a stark revelation, Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry declared on Wednesday that its stock of children’s vaccines had been depleted, sounding the alarm of “catastrophic health repercussions” for the war-torn region.

This comes over two months into the intense Israel-Hamas conflict, with international aid organizations consistently raising concerns about the desperate conditions in the densely populated Palestinian territory.

The ministry did not provide specific details about the exhausted vaccinations, and the claim awaits independent verification.

UN Humanitarian Coordinator for the Palestinian territories, Lynn Hastings, acknowledged the issue, stating that UNICEF is actively investigating.

“Vaccinations are a top priority as we work to ensure the continuity of the vaccine campaign,” Hastings emphasized during an online briefing.

The World Health Organization’s Director-General, Tedros Ghebreyesus, added a dire perspective on Sunday, warning that “Gaza’s health system is on its knees and collapsing.”

With a significant number of hospitals functioning only partially and supplies dwindling, the situation is poised to worsen, especially with the approaching winter conditions.

Amidst this crisis, the Gaza health ministry urgently called on international institutions to deliver much-needed vaccines to avert a looming disaster.

As the conflict rages on, Israel’s 68-day war against Hamas has left a devastating impact, with over 18,400 lives lost in the Gaza Strip, predominantly among women and children, according to the health ministry.

The situation has escalated since the October 7 attacks by Hamas gunmen, resulting in at least 1,200 casualties in southern Israel and the kidnapping of around 240 individuals, according to Israeli officials.

As the region grapples with the aftermath of relentless bombings and ground offensives, the immediate focus is on securing essential medical supplies, particularly vaccines, to mitigate the unfolding health crisis in Gaza.