Humanitarian Pauses To Allow Second Round Of Polio Vaccinations In Children Amid Gaza War, UNICEF Head Says

Reuters (10/10, Nichols) reports, “Humanitarian pauses in the war in the Gaza Strip have been agreed to allow a second round of polio vaccinations targeting 590,000 children under the age of 10 to start on Oct. 14, the head of the U.N. children’s agency UNICEF said on Thursday.” UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said, “Area-specific humanitarian pauses have been agreed. It is critical that these pauses are respected by all parties. Without them, it is impossible to vaccinate the children.” Russell added, “UNICEF will include Vitamin A supplements to strengthen children’s immune systems. Children in Gaza live in extremely dire hygiene and sanitation conditions.”