U.N. Agencies Launch Massive Polio Vaccination Drive in Gaza The United Nations is set to initiate a large-scale vaccination campaign in Gaza to combat a rare strain of polio. The effort, which aims to protect young children, has led to a temporary pause in combat operations by Israel in certain areas. Facing significant logistical challenges due to the destruction of infrastructure in the conflict zone, the vaccination drive is crucial in light of the recent diagnosis of a young boy with poliovirus type-2. The World Health Organization and UNICEF are working to distribute over 1.2 million doses of polio vaccine to approximately 640,000 children, with an additional 400,000 doses en route. The vaccination operation, involving 2,100 health and aid workers, will take place during a nine-hour daily pause in military activities over three days in designated areas of Gaza. The agreement for the humanitarian pause was reached after negotiations with Israeli officials, and it is not a precursor to a broader ceasefire. The first confirmed polio case in Gaza is a nearly one-year-old boy living in a temporary shelter, highlighting the challenges faced by families displaced by the conflict. The vaccinations will be administered in coordination with UNRWA and COGAT, with the goal of preventing the spread of the disease within Gaza and beyond. While concerns remain about the sustainability of the pause in hostilities, U.N. officials are focused on the urgent need to halt the transmission of polio in Gaza. The vaccination drive, set to commence on Sunday, will be followed by a second round of immunizations four weeks later to ensure long-term protection for children in the region.