By Naureen Hossain
UNITED NATIONS, Aug 29 2024 – The UN’s multi-agency polio vaccine campaign in Gaza is set to begin this weekend. It will do so under continued constraints on humanitarian operations and mobility, but with the assurance from Israel to pause fighting for the campaign to go ahead.

Rik Peeperkorn, the World Health Organization (WHO) Representative for Palestine, briefed reporters virtually on Thursday, August 29, 2024, on the upcoming polio vaccine campaign. The campaign will consist of two rounds, with the first round beginning on September 1.

There will be a four-week interval between the first and second doses. Over 1.26 million doses of the polio vaccine have arrived in Gaza, with room for an additional 400,000 doses. The campaign, coordinated with WHO, UNICEF, UNRWA and the Palestine Ministry of Health, will aim to administer two drops of novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) to at least 640,000 children under the age of ten.

“It’s critical that we reach 90 percent vaccination coverage during each round,” said Peeperkorn. “That is needed. Actually, you need 90 percent to stop the outbreak, the transmission within Gaza and to prevent the international spread of polio.”

The first round of the campaign will be carried out in three zones over three-day phases: starting in central Gaza, then in southern Gaza, and northern Gaza. Under constant monitoring of the situation, an additional one or two days may be added to extend each period in the zones, according to Peeperkorn. Even with this period, there is still pressure to carry out the campaign as soon as possible to ensure the highest coverage possible.

Health centers have been set up for families to gather to with their children. Ove 2180 outreach workers and volunteers have been trained to administer the vaccine, and mobile teams have been set up to travel to groups that may not be able to visit the centers.

“We want to make sure we have three days of the best access possible, that families bring their children to those fixed sites,” said Peeperkorn. “We will go out and reach out through mobile teams.”

Since the announcement of this campaign in early August, WHO has requested a humanitarian pause for operations to be carried out safely. According to Peeperkorn, an agreement has been reached with the Office of the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), wherein a humanitarian pause would come into effect for nine hours from 6am to 3pm.

Under the agreement, the campaign is to be carried out within the timeframe. Peeperkorn stated that the humanitarian pause would be honored and was given assurance by Israeli authorities that evacuation orders would not be issued during the campaign.

“I want to stress that without a humanitarian pause, the campaign delivery—which is already implemented under constraints in a complex environment—will not be possible,” said Peeperkorn.

When asked how confident he was of the campaign’s success, Peeperkorn replied: “I think this is a way forward. I won’t say this is the ideal way forward, but this is a workable way forward. Not doing anything would be really bad. We have to stop this transmission in Gaza… We are reasonable with this approach and everyone is playing accordingly.”

“Of course, all parties will have to stick to this. We have to make sure that every day we can do this campaign in this humanitarian pause.”

Gaza and the West Bank have high immunization coverage across the population. Peeperkorn noted that the immunization rate of over 95 percent in recent years was much higher than in some high-income countries.

Yet since current hostilities broke out in October 2023, immunization for polio dropped from 99 percent in 2022 to less than 90 percent in the first quarter of 2024.

Over the last ten months, blockades of humanitarian aid, electricity and water sanitation resources has seen a breakdown of the healthcare and sanitation systems in Gaza. The lack of clean water and sanitation in Gaza has already seen an increase in respiratory diseases and infections.

IPS UN Bureau Report

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By Oritro Karim
UNITED NATIONS, Aug 29 2024 – As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues, so does the spread of illness among Palestinian children. Already facing widespread malnutrition, starvation, dehydration, and unhygienic living conditions, hundreds of thousands of children in Gaza face the risk of contracting a multitude of diseases.

Repeated orders of evacuation in the Gaza strip as well as the continual obstruction of humanitarian aid exacerbate the spread of disease in millions of Palestinian children, who already face compromised health as a result of poor sanitation, malnutrition, and a lack of access to healthcare.

The briefing held on August 23, 2024, detailed alarming new cases of polio among children in Gaza as well as the current actions being taken by the United Nations in an effort to mitigate the spread.

“Turning to the polio situation in Gaza—as you will have seen, WHO (the World Food Programme) confirmed yesterday that a 10-month-old baby in Deir al Balah has polio. It’s the first case in 25 years,” stated the spokesperson for the Secretary-General, Stéphane Dujarric.

Additional cases have been detected in wastewater samples from Gaza refugee camps.

Polio, once thought to be eradicated in the modern world, has been re-emerging in areas with low-immunization rates. It is highly infectious and mainly targets young children, usually under 6 years old. Symptoms include disfigurement, paralysis, and death.

Dujarric added that UN organizations such as WHO, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) are currently preparing two rounds of polio vaccines to be distributed in the coming weeks.

It is important to note that the spread of polio is facilitated by the highly unsanitary living conditions in Gaza. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinian children are currently facing severe shortages in water, which leads to an increase in the spread of waterborne diseases as well as compromised hygiene.

UNICEF states, “The Gaza Strip has long suffered severe water problems, and the situation is now beyond dire. As a result of over-pumping and seawater seepage, less than five percent of the water drawn from the aquifer is estimated to be fit for human consumption.”

It is estimated that at the time of publication, approximately 98 percent of Gaza’s entire water supply is unfit for human consumption. The use of contaminated water in Gaza has led to a significant increase in waterborne diseases, respiratory infections, and skin conditions.

The ramifications of these harsh living conditions are not only limited to polio, as health issues such as dysentery, diarrhea, pneumonia, jaundice, lice, and scabies have become widespread.

Dr. Hanan Balkhy, the WHO director for the eastern Mediterranean region, told the media that the Gaza Strip, “where garbage and sewage fill the streets,”  causes respiratory complications, diarrheal illnesses, and acute jaundice to run rampant.
Furthermore, hepatitis A continues to be a major issue, as approximately 40,000 people have been infected since the war began in late 2023. Additionally, health officials fear that Gaza will soon face outbreaks of cholera and leishmaniasis, both of which can be fatal.

The ongoing hunger crisis in Gaza significantly increases the likelihood of mortality from contracting these diseases. WHO states, “a healthy body can more easily fight off these diseases, a wasted and weakened body will struggle. Hunger weakens the body’s defenses and opens the door to disease.”.

Furthermore, WHO adds that malnutrition and starvation, when coupled with the symptoms of infectious diseases, can have severe life-long consequences such as stunted growth and impaired cognitive development.

Additionally, high levels of displacement have led to severe overcrowding in refugee camps in the Gaza strip. This creates the perfect breeding ground for the transfer of infectious disease.

WHO states, “Over 1.9 million people have been displaced from their homes, of whom over 1.4 million are staying in overcrowded shelters. These conditions are ripe for a continued rise in infectious diseases. In Gaza today, on average, there is only one shower for every 4500 people and one toilet for every 220. Clean water remains scarce and there are rising levels of outdoor defecation. These conditions make the spread of infectious diseases inevitable.”

Currently, the UN is prioritizing efforts to build new latrines and water lines, repair the waste management system, and recalibrate desalination plants. However, constant bombardment and military conflict impede these critical processes.

Dujarric states that UN agencies have corresponded with both Israel and Palestine for a humanitarian pause in warfare to allow for healthcare workers to access struggling children in Gaza.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres states that for the health crisis in Gaza to be effectively mitigated, it is crucial to maintain a constant flow of vaccines and equipment to Gaza. Additionally, adequate fuel, increased donations, and stable communications are essential.

IPS UN Bureau Report

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By Oritro Karim
UNITED NATIONS, Aug 29 2024 – As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to grow more dire, so does the spread of illness among Palestinian children. Already facing widespread malnutrition, starvation, dehydration, and unhygienic living conditions, hundreds of thousands of children in Gaza face the risk of contracting a multitude of diseases.

Repeated orders of evacuation in the Gaza strip as well as the continual obstruction of humanitarian aid exacerbates the spread of disease in millions of Palestinian children, who already face compromised health as a result of poor sanitation, malnutrition, and a lack of access to healthcare.

The briefing held on August 23rd, 2024 detailed alarming new cases of polio among children in Gaza as well as the current actions being taken by the United Nations in an effort to mitigate the spread.

“Turning to the polio situation in Gaza — as you will have seen, WHO (the World Food Programme) confirmed yesterday that a 10-month-old baby in Deir al Balah has polio. It’s the first case in 25 years”, stated Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, Stéphane Dujarric.

Additional cases have been detected in wastewater samples from Gaza refugee camps.

Polio, once thought to be eradicated in the modern world, has been re-emerging in areas with low-immunization rates. It is highly infectious and mainly targets young children, usually under 6 years old. Symptoms include disfigurement, paralysis, and death.

Dujarric added that UN organizations such as WHO, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) are currently preparing two rounds of polio vaccines to be distributed in the coming weeks.

It is important to note that the spread of polio is facilitated by the highly unsanitary living conditions in Gaza. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians children are currently facing severe shortages in water which leads to an increase in the spread of waterborne diseases as well as compromised hygiene.

UNICEF states, “The Gaza Strip has long suffered severe water problems, and the situation is now beyond dire. As a result of over-pumping and seawater seepage, less than five per cent of the water drawn from the aquifer is estimated to be fit for human consumption”.

It is estimated that at the time of publication, approximately 98 percent of Gaza’s entire water supply is unfit for human consumption. The use of contaminated water in Gaza has led to a significant uptick in waterborne diseases, respiratory infections, and skin conditions.

The ramifications of these harsh living conditions are not only limited to polio as health issues such as dysentery, diarrhea, pneumonia, jaundice, lice, and scabies have become widespread.

Dr. Hanan Balkhy, the WHO director for the eastern Mediterranean region, told media that the Gaza Strip, “where garbage and sewage fill the streets”, causes respiratory complications, diarrheal illnesses, and acute jaundice to run rampant.
Furthermore, Hepatitis A continues to be a major issue as approximately 40,000 people have been infected since the war began in late 2023. Additionally, health officials fear that Gaza will soon face outbreaks in cholera and leishmaniasis, both of which can be fatal.

The ongoing hunger crisis in Gaza significantly increases the likelihood of mortality from contracting these diseases. WHO states “a healthy body can more easily fight off these diseases, a wasted and weakened body will struggle. Hunger weakens the body’s defenses and opens the door to disease”.

Furthermore, WHO adds that malnutrition and starvation, when coupled with the symptoms of infectious diseases, can have severe life-long consequences such as stunted growth and impaired cognitive development.

Additionally, high levels of displacement have led to severe overcrowding in refugee camps in the Gaza strip. This creates the perfect breeding ground for the transfer of infectious disease.

WHO states, “Over 1.9 million people have been displaced from their homes, of whom over 1.4 million are staying in overcrowded shelters. These conditions are ripe for a continued rise in infectious diseases. In Gaza today, on average, there is only one shower for every 4500 people and one toilet for every 220. Clean water remains scarce and there are rising levels of outdoor defecation. These conditions make the spread of infectious diseases inevitable”.

Currently, the UN is prioritizing efforts to build new latrines and water lines, repair the waste management system, and recalibrate desalination plants. However, constant bombardment and military conflict impedes these critical processes.

Dujarric states that UN agencies have corresponded with both Israel and Palestine for a humanitarian pause in warfare to allow for healthcare workers to access struggling children in Gaza.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres states that for the health crisis in Gaza to be effectively mitigated, it is crucial to maintain a constant flow of vaccines and equipment to Gaza. Additionally, adequate fuel, increased donations, and stable communications are essential.

IPS UN Bureau Report

Follow @IPSNewsUNBureau
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By CIVICUS
Aug 29 2024 –  
CIVICUS discusses recent leadership changes in Vietnam with David Tran, coordinator of the Alliance for Vietnam’s Democracy, a civil society platform that promotes democracy in Vietnam and the region through international cooperation and the strengthening of local civil society.

On 3 August, President Tô Lâm was confirmed as General Secretary of the Communist Party, Vietnam’s top position, following the death of long-serving General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng. Lâm, who has been president since May, is known for leading an aggressive anti-corruption campaign that has seen many officials jailed and others forced to resign. He will continue as president while assuming the duties of general secretary, potentially enabling him to consolidate power ahead of the 2026 party congress, which will choose Vietnam’s top leaders for the next five years. Civil society fears the regime could become even more autocratic and repressive if Lâm retains both positions.

David Tran

What’s Vietnam’s political system like, and what’s the likely impact of the recent leadership change?

Vietnam is an authoritarian one-party state led by the Vietnamese Communist Party (VCP). There are four key positions of authority: the president, who is the ceremonial head of state, the prime minister, who heads the government, the chair of the National Assembly, the unicameral legislature, and the most powerful, the general secretary of the VCP.

Although the president is elected by the National Assembly, this body is overwhelmingly made up of VCP members, who usually approve all incumbents unopposed. On 3 August, following the death of the last VCP general secretary, Nguyễn Phú Trọng, Tô Lâm was confirmed as the new VCP leader.

This appointment is particularly significant because it puts a lot of power in the hands of one person. His dual role gives Tô Lâm considerable influence over the state and party, as well as greater control over the public security apparatus. While he appears set to continue the policies of his predecessor, there are several cracks beneath the surface. His power is likely to be challenged by several VCP members who’ve been forced into retirement by his ‘anticorruption’ campaign, effectively an initiative to eliminate competing factions. We can expect this infighting to continue and intensify.

What does Tô Lâm’s rise mean from a human rights perspective?

Tô Lâm has had a long career, including stints as minister of public security and a member of the politburo. The key role he played in the previous general secretary’s ‘anticorruption’ campaign saw him elected president in May, after his investigations into several high-profile politicians and businesspeople led to the resignation of his predecessor and other top officials.

The accumulation of power in the hands of the architect of a purge is unlikely to lead to improvements in civic space or human rights. Tô Lâm has been closely associated with the worsening human rights situation, as the Formosa and the Trinh Xuan Thanh cases clearly illustrate.

In April 2016, the Formosa company caused an environmental disaster when it discharged heavily polluted waste off Vietnam’s central coast. This caused widespread damage in at least four provinces and sparked protests. Instead of prosecuting Formosa, Tô Lâm, then minister of public security and in charge of the environmental police, suppressed peaceful protests and had 220 people sentenced to a total of 133 years in prison, not including probation after release. He said he was protecting Formosa from what he called ‘hostile forces’ – essentially anyone who criticised the company.

The second case involves Trinh Xuan Thanh, a former vice chair of Hau Giang Province, who fled to Germany in 2016 after being accused of ‘deliberately violating state regulations, causing serious consequences’. He was abducted on German soil by the Vietnamese secret service, which is under the Ministry of Public Security, and returned to Vietnam. Tô Lâm was directly involved in this operation, which Germany condemned as a ‘scandalous violation’ of its sovereignty and a ‘gross breach of international law’.

Given Tô Lâm’s track record, we expect human rights conditions to worsen under his leadership as Vietnam descends into a police state where human rights and the rule of law are ignored. The already limited space for civil society in Vietnam has shrunk under his watch, and we expect this trend to continue.

What are the challenges facing civil society in Vietnam?

Tô Lâm’s rise to power has been marked by his consistent efforts to stifle dissent. Under his leadership, the authorities, particularly the Ministry of Public Security, have increasingly tightened their grip on civil society organisations (CSOs). They have implemented new decrees that overregulate the registration and management of foreign CSOs and applied stricter rules to domestic organisations.

They have also weaponised tax laws and the criminal code to target civil society leaders, charging them with offences such as tax evasion and ‘abuse of democratic freedoms’. This has led to the imprisonment of prominent activists, including environmental and labour rights advocates.

Independent CSOs are subject to strict surveillance, with some being dismantled or forced to reorganise to conform to the authorities. This was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which the authorities used as a pretext to impose further restrictions on civil society under the guise of public health measures.

Despite this repressive environment, some social service CSOs and philanthropic groups continue to operate and strive to make a positive impact. But their independence is severely restricted as they and their activists are constantly targeted.

What international support does Vietnam’s civil society need?

Human rights organisations and international bodies have raised concerns about the shrinking space for civil society in Vietnam. They have called for respect for freedoms of assembly, association and expression and urged the authorities to ease restrictions. While these statements are important, they must be accompanied by trade sanctions and other enforcement mechanisms. Words alone are not enough.

Unfortunately, human rights in Vietnam are also falling victim to geopolitics. As tensions with China escalate, the USA is increasingly seeing Vietnam as a counterweight to China. In this context, human rights and civic space are often sidelined, if not ignored altogether. We believe that a democratic Vietnam would be the best partner and ally in promoting a peaceful, open and stable Indo-Pacific region.

Even if Tô Lâm has a long way to go before he reaches a position comparable to Xi Jinping’s in China, consolidation of power is a general trend we’re seeing among the region’s communist states. Oddly enough, given how these two leaders came to power, it could be a sign that pressure for human rights and civic space, both domestically and internationally, is working. If the authorities feel compelled to respond by consolidating power and positioning figures like Tô Lâm to counter these movements, there is still hope we are on the right track.

Civic space in Vietnam is rated ‘closed’ by the CIVICUS Monitor.

Get in touch with the Alliance for Vietnam’s Democracy through its webpage or Facebook page.

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