Gaza faces record disease risk as winter worsens vaccine shortage

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) has issued a stark warning that the risk of preventable diseases in the Gaza Strip has reached record highs, exacerbated by severe winter weather and a devastating breakdown of the healthcare system. In a statement Monday, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini emphasized that children have repeatedly missed essential routine immunizations since the start of the conflict over two years ago, leaving them dangerously vulnerable.

A Perfect Storm of Health Crises

Lazzarini outlined a compounding catastrophe for public health in Gaza. "Amid more than two years of war in Gaza, children have repeatedly missed out on the vaccines they need to stay safe," he stated. The onset of harsh winter conditions—bringing cold, heavy rain, and flooding—is now piling onto existing, severe threats. These threats stem from what he described as "already record-high disease risks caused by poor water and sanitation services, overcrowded shelters and the collapse of the medical system." This convergence creates what aid workers term a perfect storm for outbreaks.

Urgent Catch-Up Vaccination Campaign Launched

In response to the escalating crisis, UNRWA teams, in coordination with UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO), and local partners, initiated the second phase of a critical catch-up vaccination drive on Sunday. The campaign specifically targets children under the age of three, who are most at risk. Lazzarini stressed the extraordinary importance of the effort: "Vaccination in such conditions matters more than ever." The campaign represents a vital attempt to save lives and stave off a secondary health disaster in the besieged enclave.

Context of Ongoing Conflict and International Response

The health crisis unfolds against a backdrop of prolonged and intense conflict. The latest phase of hostilities, which began in October 2023, has resulted in widespread destruction of Gaza's civilian infrastructure, including hospitals and clinics. While a ceasefire nominally took effect in October, reports indicate ongoing violence, with Palestinian health authorities reporting significant casualties in the period since. The international community, including Türkiye—which has been a vocal advocate for a permanent ceasefire and the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid—views the healthcare collapse as a major impediment to any lasting stability. Türkiye's humanitarian agencies have been actively involved in providing medical aid, highlighting the strategic and moral priority Ankara places on alleviating the crisis in Gaza.