Israel Blocks Critical Medical Supplies Needed for UNICEF's Gaza Children Vaccination Campaign

Geneva:

UNICEF reported on Tuesday that Israel is preventing critical supplies from entering Gaza, including 1.6 million syringes essential for vaccinating children and bottles for infant formula, hampering humanitarian efforts in the conflict-ravaged territory.

During a current mass vaccination campaign amid a fragile ceasefire, UNICEF faces significant obstacles in bringing necessary medical equipment into Gaza. The organization stated that 1.6 million syringes have been awaiting customs clearance since August, along with solar-powered refrigerators needed to properly store vaccines.

"Both the syringes and refrigerators are classified as 'dual-use' items by Israel, making them extremely difficult to get through clearance procedures despite their urgent necessity," explained UNICEF spokesperson Ricardo Pires.

The term "dual-use" refers to items Israel considers to have potential military applications alongside civilian uses.

COGAT, the Israeli military division responsible for overseeing aid deliveries to Gaza, did not immediately respond when asked for comment. They have previously claimed they are not restricting the entry of food, water, medical supplies, or shelter materials, while accusing Hamas of misappropriating humanitarian aid—allegations that the Palestinian militant group denies.

On Sunday, UNICEF initiated the first of three planned rounds of catch-up immunizations targeting over 40,000 children under age three who missed routine vaccines against polio, measles, and pneumonia during two years of conflict in Gaza.

The first day of the campaign successfully reached more than 2,400 children with multiple vaccines.

"While the vaccination campaign has begun, we still have two rounds to complete, and for that we require additional supplies," Pires noted.

UNICEF acknowledged that more humanitarian aid is now entering Gaza, but emphasized that Israeli authorities continue to block certain critical items, including 938,000 bottles of ready-to-use infant formula and spare parts for water trucks.

"That's nearly one million bottles that could be reaching children suffering from various levels of malnutrition," Pires told reporters at a Geneva briefing.

The October 10 truce was intended to facilitate a massive influx of aid throughout the enclave, but relief organizations have consistently reported that the amount of assistance getting through remains insufficient to meet the needs of the largely displaced and malnourished population of 2 million.