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Gaza official warns of ‘real catastrophe’ amid suspension of polio campaign
Khalil Deqran, a spokesperson for the Gaza Health Ministry, told the Reuters news agency that “we anticipate a real catastrophe” if the polio vaccines do not arrive immediately.
“Children and patients must not be used as cards of political blackmail,” he said.
As we’ve been reporting, Israel’s blockade, which was imposed on March 2, has prevented the entry of all medical supplies into Gaza, including vaccines, halting the implementation of Phase 4 of the polio prevention campaign and leaving 602,000 children vulnerable to “permanent paralysis and chronic disabilities”.
Polio re-emerged in Gaza last year for the first time in more than 20 years, paralysing a 10-month-old child.
Since then, the UN, the Palestinian Health Ministry and other groups have carried out three rounds of vaccinations, in September and October of last year, as well as in February this year.
Several killed, wounded as Israeli forces bomb school-turned-shelter in Gaza City
Our colleagues at Al Jazeera Arabic are reporting that Israeli forces have bombed the Jaffa School in the northern city, killing and wounding a number of displaced people.
The drone attack sparked a fire at the school in the Tuffah neighbourhood, according to images published by Palestinian media.
Rescuers in Gaza say they have recovered the bodies of at least 10 people, as well as “a large number” of wounded from the Jaffa School in Gaza City.
That school was sheltering displaced Palestinians.
Child burns to death after Israeli attack on Jaffa School
Our correspondent on the ground says at least one child was among the victims. The child’s body was burned beyond recognition, according to images from the scene.
“Children are being burned while they sleep in the tents of the displaced,” Al Jazeera’s Anas al-Sharif wrote. “There are no safe areas, and no survivors of this genocide. Gaza City and its northern areas have been subjected to heavy Israeli shelling and artillery fire for hours.”
Translation: This is how our children are being burned while they sleep in the tents of the displaced … There are no safe areas, and no survivors of this genocide. Gaza City and its northern areas have been subjected to heavy Israeli shelling and artillery fire for hours.
Aftermath of deadly Israeli attack on Jaffa School
Those who survived have been inspecting the rubble and destruction.
“My three cousins – three children – were lost. They were pulled out, completely charred,” said wounded Palestinian Ahmed Basal. Israel resumed its military campaign in Gaza on March 18, following the collapse of a two-month ceasefire that had largely halted the fighting in the besieged Palestinian territory.
“We were asleep when suddenly we saw a light like the light of the Day of Judgement – fire everywhere. I grabbed my daughters and ran. They were injured, and their father was in the bathroom. The girls were screaming for him, and we lost each other,” said Bisan al-Kafarneh, a displaced Palestinian from Beit Hanoon seeking shelter inside the school.
“As we were fleeing, they bombed the school again. People were screaming, women were crying and searching for their relatives. I don’t know what to say, people here were burned – burned alive,” al-Kafarneh said.
Her two daughters were wounded, the woman explained, one in her back and one in her leg. But medics at al-Shifa Hospital could assist only by sterilising the wounds as there were no bandages to use.“They’re also filthy and people are lying on the ground.”
