‘Childhood Tragedy’: Gaza children receive polio vaccinations amidst ongoing war | Updates on Israel-Palestine conflict

Maha Abu Shamas and Hanin Abdullah, two mothers living in crowded classrooms in Gaza, are struggling to protect their children from polio amidst dire living conditions exacerbated by war. Maha, who recently lost her husband in an Israeli air strike, is now the sole caregiver for her five children. She emphasizes the need for improved living conditions and an end to the ongoing conflict. Meanwhile, Hanin, who lives with her 25 family members in a cramped space, initially hesitated to vaccinate her children due to a lack of trust in international organizations. She highlights the widespread distrust among displaced families towards Western interventions and conspiracy theories about the vaccines. Despite her doubts, Hanin ultimately decided to vaccinate her children to protect them from the threat of polio. Both mothers stress that while the vaccination drive is crucial, the real battle lies in improving living conditions and ending the war that continues to devastate the lives of families in Gaza on a daily basis. They believe that addressing the root causes of their struggles is essential to safeguarding the health and well-being of their children and ensuring a better future for them.

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