✏️ BY: Dr. Hana Saada
Algiers, Algeria | August 22nd, 2024 — Algeria has issued a forceful plea for the urgent enforcement of a UN Security Council ceasefire resolution in Gaza, citing the pressing need to initiate a polio vaccination campaign amid the territory’s escalating health crisis. The call follows relentless Zionist airstrikes that have decimated Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure, raising fears of a looming polio epidemic in the war-torn enclave.
Algeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Amar Bendjama, voiced this appeal during a critical UN Security Council session addressing the Middle East and the Palestinian issue. “Algeria demands the immediate and complete implementation of all relevant Security Council resolutions, particularly Resolution 2735, which mandates an urgent ceasefire in Gaza,” declared Bendjama. He emphasized the grave threat posed by polio, now re-emerging due to the collapse of Gaza’s medical services. “The resurgence of polio is a direct consequence of the ongoing destruction of hospitals and the targeting of healthcare workers by Zionist forces,” he added.
Gaza’s Healthcare System on the Brink of Collapse as Health Crisis Deepens
The systematic destruction of Gaza’s healthcare system has intensified the risk of a widespread polio outbreak. Bendjama revealed that more than half of Gaza’s 36 hospitals have been rendered inoperative under the barrage of Zionist bombardments. “The toll of this aggression extends beyond the immediate casualties—Gaza now faces the imminent threat of a public health catastrophe,” he cautioned. The situation has been exacerbated by the detection of polio in wastewater samples from Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis, with the World Health Organization (WHO) confirming the virus’s presence and warning of potential transmission beginning as early as September.
The healthcare crisis is compounded by Gaza’s inability to mount an adequate response due to the ongoing war against the besieged strip. Bendjama highlighted the impossibility of launching a vaccination campaign while airstrikes continue. “The notion of a successful vaccination drive is inconceivable under current conditions. What Gaza truly needs is not another de-escalation mechanism, but a full cessation of hostilities,” he asserted, echoing calls from WHO and UNICEF for a humanitarian pause to enable critical health interventions.
Humanitarian Efforts Paralyzed by Relentless Zionist Assaults
Bendjama expressed deep frustration over the stalled diplomatic efforts to halt the Zionist offensive. “Despite multiple mediation attempts led by key international players, such as Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, the Zionist entity continues to flagrantly disregard global appeals for peace, in violation of UN resolutions and the rulings of the International Court of Justice regarding Gaza,” he remarked.
The ambassador further warned of the broader consequences of unchecked violence in Gaza, which could destabilize the wider region. “The Middle East is standing on the edge of a larger and more devastating war. A sustained ceasefire in Gaza is essential to prevent a regional escalation,” Bendjama stressed. He also accused the Zionist entity of deliberately undermining the possibility of a Palestinian state, citing continued land seizures, illegal settlement expansions, and repeated incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Regional Instability Escalates as Zionist Settler Violence Intensifies
Bendjama drew attention to the rising violence in the West Bank, where emboldened Zionist settlers have increasingly terrorized Palestinian communities. “The tragedy unfolding in Gaza threatens to spill over into the West Bank, further inflaming tensions across the region. The international community must act decisively to end the bloodshed and bring this dark chapter in Middle Eastern history to a close,” he urged.
UN Secretary-General Calls for Humanitarian Pause to Facilitate Vaccination
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres recently echoed the need for a humanitarian pause, specifically to facilitate a polio vaccination campaign in Gaza. The polio outbreak, detected earlier this month, threatens to further strain an already overstretched and devastated healthcare system. WHO polio expert Hamid Jafari has warned that without immediate intervention, the virus could spread rapidly, exacerbating the already dire public health crisis in Gaza.
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