International humanitarian organizations have announced a large-scale vaccination campaign targeting tens of thousands of children in Gaza — a region where the health system remains on the brink of collapse.

The joint campaign, organized by the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), is set to begin next week. It aims to vaccinate approximately 44,000 children who have been deprived of essential healthcare services amid the ongoing siege and destruction.

WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus confirmed that the initiative will not only provide routine immunizations but also include nutrition screening, growth monitoring, and medical treatment for children suffering from prolonged malnutrition and lack of medical access.

“Starting next week, 44,000 children in Gaza will receive routine vaccinations, nutrition assessments, treatment, and growth monitoring. These children have been deprived of life-saving care for far too long,” Dr. Ghebreyesus said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

He warned, however, that the success of the effort depends on maintaining the fragile ceasefire in Gaza. “Without peace and security, rebuilding Gaza’s health system is impossible,” he stressed.

According to WHO, work is underway to rehabilitate 20 health facilities damaged or destroyed during the war and to expand access to primary healthcare centers across the Strip. UNICEF added that the new “catch-up immunization” campaign specifically targets children who missed routine vaccines during the prolonged conflict and blockade.

The healthcare system in Gaza has been pushed to the edge after months of Israeli bombardment, which left hospitals crippled, medical warehouses empty, and power and water networks shattered. Thousands of displaced families continue to live amid the ruins, struggling to meet even the most basic human needs.

Humanitarian organizations say the vaccination drive is more than a medical operation — it is a moral and humanitarian lifeline for Gaza’s youngest generation.

“Every vaccinated child is a symbol of hope and resilience. Despite all the suffering, this effort reminds us that every child’s life still matters,” said a UNICEF field coordinator in Gaza.

The campaign, officials say, stands as a small but powerful act of defiance against despair — a sign that amid destruction and blockade, the will to heal and protect Gaza’s children endures. (ILKHA)