Algerian authorities have called for the immediate enforcement of a UN Security Council resolution to facilitate a vaccination campaign against polio in the Gaza Strip, where the virus has recently been detected.
Algeria's Permanent Representative to the UN Amar Bendjama emphasized the urgency of implementing UN Security Council resolutions, particularly Resolution 2735, to address the looming threat of a polio outbreak in Gaza. Speaking to Algerian radio, Bendjama stated, “Algeria demands the immediate and full implementation of UN Security Council resolutions, including Resolution 2735, to be able to confront the specter of polio that looms on the horizon.”
Bendjama expressed deep concern over the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, highlighting the potential for a dramatic increase in casualties not only due to the ongoing conflict but also because of the imminent risk of a polio epidemic. He noted that Gaza's health system has been severely compromised by deliberate attacks by Israeli forces on hospitals and medical personnel. “Today, 20 out of 36 hospitals in Gaza are no longer functioning,” he added.
Bendjama questioned how a successful vaccination campaign could be carried out in Gaza amid continued Israeli bombardments. He criticized the current de-escalation efforts, describing them as illusory, and stressed the need for a real cessation of hostilities to enable the vaccination campaign to proceed. He echoed the sentiments of the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, both of which have advocated for a humanitarian pause to allow the campaign to take place.
Algeria, as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, has been actively involved in addressing the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, paying increased attention to the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
The urgency of Algeria's demands follows the discovery of a dangerous poliovirus in several tent camps in Gaza in July 2024. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that polio could infect thousands of unvaccinated children in the Gaza Strip if immediate action is not taken. Polio is a highly contagious disease caused by the poliovirus, which can lead to paralysis and can be fatal.
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Based on materials from TASS