Thousands of children in Gaza are set to receive much-needed vaccinations as doses of vaccines against childhood diseases, including polio and measles, have begun entering the besieged enclave. The Palestinian health ministry announced on Monday that the supplies, estimated to be sufficient for 8 to 14 months of vaccinations, had entered Gaza through the Rafah border crossing with the aid of Egyptian government cold storage facilities. The ongoing ground offensive by Israel has disrupted normal health services in Gaza, including vaccinations against highly contagious childhood diseases.

Yasser Bouzia, head of international relations in the health ministry in Ramallah, expressed concerns about the estimated 60,000 newborn babies in Gaza who would normally receive vaccination, but have been largely cut off from medical services. The difficulty in administering the vaccines is exacerbated by the displacement of much of Gaza's population, with hundreds of thousands living in tents or other temporary accommodation.

However, Israel announced on Friday that it would facilitate the entry of the vaccines to help prevent the spread of disease. The vaccines, which include those against rubella, polio, measles, and mumps, come from supplies purchased by the Palestinian health ministry and donations from UNICEF. This initiative aims to address the growing health emergency in Gaza and provide vital protection for children against preventable diseases.